Twenty-one – What a milestone.

For American citizens, reaching this magical age comes as a rite of passage. The age of 21 is the highest drinking age limit imposed upon any youth in the world.

When the drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 in 1984, it was thought that this would reduce drinking-related deaths.

But I’m not here to debate whether the drinking age should be lowered, but instead to shed light on an issue that many students anticipating their arrival on the bar scene should be aware of.

The controversy essentially boils down to this: When the clock hits the stroke of midnight on a person’s 21st birthday, will he or she be allowed to celebrate inside a bar or will the person be turned away?

I thought this was a no-brainer.

As a culture, we celebrate the turning of a new day with the tick of the clock’s hand to midnight. If this is the case, what would be any different about entering a bar on your legal birthday?

Well, in some parts of San Diego, don’t count on being allowed in.

Various bars in the greater San Diego area have different policies regarding whether they’ll allow young adults to ring in their new legal drinking status on their premises. What gives?

Numerous bars’ answers and reasons varied, but to most in Pacific Beach, the answer regarding the big midnight celebration was a stern N-O.

When speaking to bartenders and bouncers along the popular Garnet Avenue, an array of arguments were given. At one bar, an argument was the question of whether the 21st birthday had actually occurred at all. This argument was because some people aren’t born until late in the day, so the person will not legally be 21 at midnight on their birthday.

Interesting answer. When did printing the time of birth become a practice at the DMV?

Frustrated with this technicality, I went on to another establishment, and investigated the previous justification further.

A bartender told me that the business day continues until 2 a.m. and although the date legally changes, it is technically the same business evening for the books.

Another, more popular reason was the liability risk that comes with allowing such a celebration to occur.

Many bars around the country have reported deadly incidents from young adults attempting to take 21 shots on their 21st birthday. States such as Texas and Minnesota have even considered enacting “Cinderella” bills, where fresh 21-year-olds will not be allowed to drink in a bar until 7 a.m. the next morning.

While California has not taken to the idea of this rule yet, for some San Diego hot spots, the risk of liability outweighs the benefits of increased business. The bars just don’t want the extra headache.

Now that’s an argument I can understand.

Pacific Beach Bar & Grill was the only major beach bar I talked to that would allow the midnight celebrations.

Bouncer Perry Young said that because the date has legally changed, there is no reason not to allow someone in. Almost every night there are a few 21st birthday celebrations, and nothing unusual happens, he said.

Effin’s Pub & Grill, in College Area, shares this attitude. Bartender Frank Battistone said there’s no reason to not allow legal 21-year-olds into the bar on their birthday.

“They are legally 21 at midnight, so why not?” Battistone said. He said that to regulate a rowdy birthday celebration, bartenders carefully watch the newly legal drinker and make sure that their friends are not pressuring them to go beyond their limit.

Granted, Effin’s is a smaller establishment with a greater employee-to-patron ratio than some of the larger beach bars, thus reducing the risk of incidents, so I understand why there’s a difference in practice.

This rule is not actually a law, but instead a technicality that is left up to the businesses in San Diego.

Restaurants and bars put up signs that read, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone,” and under this business practice, that means a variety of things.

New drinkers need to be aware that even though the date may have changed, they still need to play by the bar’s rules.

So just make sure your party plans are in-line with not only federal law, but with the bar’s law as well.

-Lauren Englehardt is a communication senior.

-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, major and year in school.