WTF: Police Cite Oak Square 7-Eleven For Not Selling Alcohol

Boston Police recently appear to have been conducting license checks on a number of Allston-Brighton businesses.

The Allston-Brighton TAB reports on one citation that, on the face of it, appears mind-numbingly backwards:

The 7-Eleven convenience store at 584 Washington St. in Brighton was found to be a holder of an active 2009 retail malt and wine license, but the premise was found to have discontinued the sale of alcohol, so it received a violation for non-use of a license.

The 7-Eleven in Oak Square just got cited for not selling booze? Come on.

If they aren't using their license, then the city should just take it back. The neighborhood obviously won't miss the loss of that one license.

Yeah, I know, it's possible that the point of the police's citation might be to create a paper trail in order to take away the license. Yeah, sure. But don't cite them in a way that encourages a 7-Eleven to sell booze. Just talk to them and get an agreement to send the license somewhere else...


Image of Beer kegs by slworking2 provided through a Creative Commons license.

When Will A-B Liquor Stores Get a Clue?

Last fall, the Boston Police Department's D-14 station announced to area business owners and residents that they were about to conduct a sting operation to catch liquor sales to underage purchasers.

Despite warning after warning that the sting operation was on its way, can you guess what happened? The sting operation still nailed a bunch of liquor stores -- and a couple of college students -- with underage purchase of alcohol.

The Allston-Brighton TAB reported that six Allston liquor stores in November 2008 sold alcohol to an undercover officer ("cadet") without requesting ID, and two Boston College students were issued criminal complaints for underage purchasing of alcohol on the same day as the sting operation.

Boston Police just issued a warning about a new sting operation that they will be carrying out in Allston-Brighton soon. Will local stores -- and underage college students -- heed the warning this time? Don't hold your breath.


Image of trunk full of beer by DrPantzo provided through a Creative Commons license.

Thirsty Scholars Pour Into North Allston; Systems Biology Finals Club To Follow

Harvard University hasn't been working with, or even up front with, residents of North Allston and North Brighton according to an article in The Harvard Crimson last week. (The article's additional claim that Boston College behaves neighborly by comparison is the subject of much dispute.) Harvard's Director of Community Relations, Kevin McCluskey, was quoted in the original Crimson story but was unsatisfied with Harvard's depiction in it -- so he and Kathy Spiegelmann wrote a follow-up letter-to-the-editor, published in Monday's edition, titled, "Harvard Hopes to Maintain Open Dialogue with Allston."

Members of Harvard's Faculty must have been quite confused that same Monday to hear Chris Gordon, Chief Operating Officer of Harvard's Allston Development Group, tell them during the faculty meeting that they had hidden a room on the roof of the Allston Science Complex -- named a "function room" on all the drawings and documents -- that is actually intended to be a bar for the scientists to socialize and drink.

There is no indication that Gordon or any other members of the ADG ever mentioned this intended use for a room in the Science Complex during the zoning approval process under Article 80 of Boston's zoning code. It's not a stretch to say that somebody's done found lion at the site.

It is outrageous that McCluskey publishes a letter-to-the-editor claiming to work with the neighborhood on the same day that Gordon tells the faculty how Harvard hasn't been up-front with the neighborhood.


A bar for 80-hour-a-week, nose-to-the-bench molecular biologists and biochemists? Well, some might say that they they know what they're doing. A friend once told me that, if she ever decided to drop acid, she would trust Caltech or MIT chemists to synthesize it, because she was sure that they would run a nuclear magnetic resonance test to verify its purity. But would she trust a Harvard chemist? Maybe, maybe not.


University chemists and biologists are popular at after-hours events, since it's relatively easy to sneak 96% ethanol out of the stockroom or the lab shelves. Most scientists know to avoid using ethanol more pure than 96%, however, because carcinogenic benzyne is added to it as a material separation agent... so the Allston Science Complex Systems Biology Finals Club bartender ought to be careful when purchasing product for their shelves.

Would proteasome researchers think highly of a Science Complex bar, or would they consider it degrading?


Via Harry Mattison.

Image of Somerville's Thirsty Scholar Pub by davidz, LSD image by Quasimondo, and ethanol by willie lee (not jack brown), provided through a Creative Commons license.

Boston College Student Behavior Policies

Several residents have been asking what exactly is BC's student behavior policy. It is available online in their Student Guide, where section 5 "Behavior Policies" is the relevant portion. I reproduce here several excerpts.

More information on alcohol-specific policies (and Massachusetts State Law) can be found here.


NOISE DISTURBANCES

A city ordinance prohibits all noises which would disturb neighbors beyond 50 feet of the residence hall areas between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Students responsible for noise violations are subject to University disciplinary action. Within residence areas, any noise or sound heard outside one's immediate room/suite/apartment is unacceptable. Violations of Quiet Hours as posted in the residence halls will be dealt with as a student disciplinary matter by the Residential Life staff.

ALCOHOL POLICY

Students must be 21 years of age or older to consume or possess alcohol.

• Students who are of legal age may only possess small amounts alcohol for personal consumption.
• Students under the age of 21 may not host a guest who possess or consumes alcoholic beverages in their room, suite or apartment regardless of guest age.
• Providing alcohol to minors or intoxicated persons is prohibited.
• Unacceptable behavior by a Boston College resident as a result of abusing alcoholic beverages will be subject to University judicial action which may result in suspension or dismissal from the residence halls and/or the University.
• The unauthorized use of alcoholic beverages in common areas (i.e., corridors, public lounges, Mod backyards and porches, on the grounds, etc.) is prohibited.
• All "central sources" (i.e. kegs, large containers filled with alcohol, punch, home brewing kits, etc.) will be confiscated and disposed, and responsible students will be referred to University disciplinary action.
• Drinking games and/or any other activities which promote the use or abuse of alcohol are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to funnels and gaming tables used for drinking. When found, these items will be confiscated and disposed of without compensation to the owner.
• Students of legal drinking age who are hosting guests are responsible for assuring that all guests consuming alcoholic beverages are of legal drinking age.
• No empty containers of alcohol are permitted in the residence areas of students who are under the age of 21.
• Alcohol containers, advertisements, and paraphernalia can not be displayed on windows or on doors, or used as decorative pieces.

Off-campus Disturbances

As members of both the Boston College and the neighborhood communities, students who reside in off-campus apartments have a responsibility to demonstrate respect and concern for all members of the local community. As a result, Boston College imposes an obligation upon all its students to demonstrate responsible citizenship in the local neighborhood. Excessive or unreasonable noise, the illegal use and/or sale or distribution of alcohol or drugs, objects being thrown out of apartment windows, excessively large parties, and/or rude and abusive language or behavior are not in concert with the obligation. Numerous off-campus arrests have occurred for such offenses as false IDs, disorderly conduct, illegal sale or possession of alcohol, and public drinking. Therefore, the University reserves the right to refer any students identified as being involved in this type of behavior to the University's Student Judicial System for disciplinary action. If found responsible, students are subject to sanctions up to and including loss of University housing privileges or suspension or dismissal from the University.

Off-campus Misconduct

Whether or not alleged misconduct constitutes a violation of criminal law, students may be sanctioned by the Student Judicial System for violations of the University Code of Student Conduct occurring on or off the Boston College campus. Accordingly, persons who are not members of the Boston College community may initiate a complaint with the Office of the Dean for Student Development.