The Sacramento bar scene could use some improvement ? in more ways than one. The recent death of 20-year-old Sacramento State student Jesse Snow in a drunk driving accident has raised some serious concerns over the ease in which alcohol is served to underage and intoxicated drinkers in Sacramento bars.

Snow?s family has also filed a $25 million dollar lawsuit against the local Chevy?s restaurant that served Snow and his friend Stephen Head, the driver in the incident who was also underage.

While the suit seems like an obvious opportunity for the Snow family and their attorneys ? Chevy?s, Inc. is a large corporation and may be able to pay such a large sum ? the incident does call for some feasible changes in the ways Sacramento bars operate and their patrons frequent them. The Snow family?s rage is warranted. Head was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.29, well over the legal limit. Also, it has been reported that neither Head nor Snow was checked for identification.

Understandably, bars can often be crowded. Bartenders and waiters cannot possibly monitor every customer, regardless of how many harsh laws are enacted or how much Chevy?s is made to pay for last month?s incident. To make a positive change, a series of unpleasant truths must be acknowledged. First, large numbers of students drink underage, and that is unlikely to change. Second, as most college students can attest, drunk drivers leave Sacramento bars every weekend, and not just Chevy?s.

Sacramento is spread out. Few bars and restaurants in this town are reachable by walking. This creates a dangerous situation. However, last month?s tragedy does not have to be repeated. Both bar owners and patrons must be cognizant of Sacramento?s naturally dangerous bar situation. There are facilities already in place to make weekends safer. Saferides is an excellent program offered every weekend at Sac State, at least for those who take advantage of it. Perhaps bars could take it upon themselves to establish communication with Saferides and services like it. This would enable bar employees themselves to arrange rides for patrons that clearly cannot drive. In regards to underage drinking and serving alcohol to customers who are overly intoxicated, it is not too much to ask that bars hire extra help to check customers and ensure that the threat of drunk driving is minimized.

As college students, however, we should not count on bars to ensure our safety. Only safe drinking practices can eliminate drunk driving practices completely. The designated driver system is easy and nearly fool proof. A perfect legislative or legal solution will never exist in Sacramento. We are ultimately responsible for our own safety. Hopefully we have learned our lesson.