Photo by Stefan Agregado, Daily 49er
Tired from a long day of rigorous classes but don't want to walk all the way to upper campus to the Nugget to buy a beer? Well, wait no longer because the Outpost Grill will begin to sell certain alcoholic beverages no later than the start of spring semester.
The Outpost Grill applied for a beer and wine license in late August. This will make it the second vendor on campus where students can purchase alcoholic beverages. The 49er shops, which operate the Nuggest and the Outpost, have a catering license to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits like whiskey and vodka.
"I think it’s based on convenience," says 4th year biology major Shanli Khani. "The Outpost will become the Nugget for lower campus and cater to the students there. The students will appreciate that they don’t have to walk all the way to upper campus just to buy a beer."
Don Penrod, chief executive officer of the 49er shops, "cited a possible increase in revenue, recent renovations to the restaurant and service to the student community as reasons for the idea." (Daily 49er) The Outpost has paid $650 to apply and will have to pay a $350 renewal fee a year after licensing.
"I believe this is a good business move because there will be an influx of money to help our campus for its desperately needed classes, professors, and even lower costs on tuition," says 4th year accounting major Will Chung.
However not every student feels comfortable with the idea of a second vendor selling alcohol on campus.
"I feel like the Nugget is more than enough alcohol for a college campus. It’s already sad that we have one and it’s understandable since its legal, but having two bars that are less than a mile away from each other is a little to much. I start to feel like the campus is encouraging us to drink before class. I feel like it’s a bad move just because its a public school and since this is higher education we should be above the norms of society. I think they would definitely make money, but I would call it "dirty money," says 3rd year business major Izzy Powe.
Although this makes buying alcohol more convenient for students, the student reaction to this new business venture is controversial. Penrod states that the 49er shops will limit the promotion of alcohol sales outside of its restaurants.
