Young drinkers have no valid complaint

I respectfully respond to Andrew Kraus' gripe that Champaign-Urbana police bar-checks represent a "misuse of power," and that "the current system is taking advantage of underage students monetarily, and it is not really deterring anyone from under-aged drinking." Kraus further asserts that "the cities of C-U should do us all a favor and save the raids for serious problems."

Kraus doesn't give us his age, so I have to assume that he is under the legal drinking age.

I have news for him. Binge drinking at the University of Illinois and at the campus bars is a serious problem. So underage students drink at their own risk and pay for their fines accordingly. It's either that or (here's a novel idea) they can wait until they are legal.

As a citizen of Champaign-Urbana who is way over the legal age limit, I cannot describe how repulsive it is to step in slimy green vomit on the day after Unofficial St. Patrick's Day or to read about another jumper from a balcony. I can tell readers how frightening it is to watch a carload of underage drunks attempting to make their way down Neil Street at 3 a.m. weaving all over.

It's not even pretty to walk Green Street on a nice fall evening and see beer bottles thrown from the balconies. It is a good method of monitoring my old-lady reflexes though, so thanks for that.

Drink up, pay up and shut up.

ANN SMITH

Champaign