This year Eau Claire and Madison are considering two very different approaches to control the illegal behaviors that often occur during Homecoming and Halloween, respectively.

Madison police are considering the option of letting State Street bars stay open until 3 a.m., an hour later than usual, to control the flood of drunk and potentially violent people onto State Street at bar close.

Eau Claire’s Student Senate President Aaron Olson recently said he will propose Water Street bars not open until 11 a.m. after the homecoming parade according to a Sept. 22 article in The Spectator; typically some bars open at 7 a.m.

Madison’s solution makes more sense for the safety of party-goers. It’s safer to keep intoxicated people off the streets.

Bars are secure areas, staffed with security personnel and people who regulate others’ consumption to some degree. It’s better to keep people in these safe environments than turning them out on the streets. The alternative to open bars is house parties. And, its doubtful city officials and law enforcement want to see students doing keg stands in front yards or hosting bloody mary breakfasts on their front porches.

Part of the reason the homecoming parade was moved off of Water Street was to keep intoxicated people separated. It worked well last year. Let’s not fix something that isn’t broken.

Additionally, Water Street business owners would lose thousands of dollars or more by not opening early on Homecoming.

Senate does deserve respect for addressing the problem and trying to come up with a solution. However, this is not it.

The fact remains, when many students and visitors get together at these events, drinking and illegal activity will occur. Few people will agree to stay sober through these celebrations.

Rather than making changes to bar hours, officials would be better served to educate students on responsible drinking.