Fresno State is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for students, but having a pub that sells alcohol on campus may seem to be a contradiction.

According to the Policy on Campus Use of Alcoholic Beverages, The Association Caterer’s Permit operates under licenses issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control. This permit is what allows The Bucket Pub and Grill on campus to sell alcohol.

Licenses must also be authorized by the Vice President of Administration. The policy states that only wine and beer should be allowed to be served on campus.

According to these requirements The Bucket Pub and Grill which provides food services and six different draughts of beer is in full compliance with Fresno State’s policy.

The student who decides to drink while at school, on the other hand, could very well be violating the campuses rules and not even know it.

“Students shall not be under the influence of alcohol while on campus,” states the policy. This at first seems to be contradictory to the availability of beer. But it is unclear as to what being under the influence actually means in the policy.

Dr. Lisa Herzig, a dietician and nutritionist at Fresno State says it’s not straightforward issue.

“To say that everybody across the board is going to have the same type of reaction, I couldn’t necessarily say that,” Herzig said. “We can only make some assumptions.”

There are many different factors to consider when diagnosing blood alcohol content Herzig said

“Men typically have the enzymes that take alcohol longer to metabolize than females. Also body composition, fat rate versus muscle rate is going to affect the metabolism of alcohol,” Herzig said.

According to the blood alcohol chart provided by the Fresno State Health Center, there are three zones of intoxication represented by colors. The blue zone represents the ideal level of alcohol content of around .02 to .06 percent. The orange zone represents what they call the “sloppy drunk” and the red level is a representation of severe mental and physical impairment.

After having one or two beers at the Pub, most students would still only fall into the blue category of the BAC chart. Dr. Herzig says that even with a minimal amount of alcohol in your system you are still susceptible to some risks in the classroom.

“It very well could impair their ability to follow along with a lecture. It may even cause some problems physically for them if they were not to be as cognizant,” Herzig said.

Having a Pub on campus may serve as a bad influence for some, but the Alcohol Safety Council led by Dr. Oliaro says it is always taking the appropriate measures to ensure the best environment for all students.

According to the Alcohol Safety Council (ASC) mission statement Fresno State strives to promote and sustain a safe, healthy, and responsible learning environment regarding alcohol choices.

They accomplish this by developing and coordinating alcohol-related education, prevention and intervention programs. They also work to advise and collaborate with the University administration, campus, and community on alcohol-related issues.

Dr. Oliaro, Vice President of Student Affairs, says that interacting with alcohol will always be part of our daily lives.

“It’s a natural part of life,” said Oliaro of student’s access to beer on campus.

Kathy Yarmo, the Coordinator of Health Promotion and Wellness Services, said she had a pub on her campus while going to college and that ultimately as adults we make our own choices.

“If your 21 and you want to go have a beer at the pub, that’s your legal right to do so,” Yarmo said.

Yarmo also stressed that students need to be aware of the outcomes of their choices as well.

“It’s certainly something to think about. When you go to class we want the students to be as equipped as physically and as mentally as they can to promote the best learning environment that they could have,” Yarmo said.

Dr. Oliaro said that on a campus with a majority of students over 21 that he is confident in the student’s decisions. There has never been a recorded disturbance from alcohol consumption resulting from The Bucket Pub and Grill said Dr. Oliaro.

According to The University Courtyard’s Alcohol and Drug Statistics, there are 37 businesses within a two mile radius of Fresno State that serve alcohol. Yarmo says it is the universities hope that in the end we are safe.

“It has to do with the environment on the campus and the philosophy here on this campus is that we are not purporting that people avoid alcohol,” Yarmo said. “We want to make sure that first of all that those that are consuming alcohol are of legal age. But if people are going to engage we want them to be safe. We want them to have the information hey need to make the best decision for them.”