<p>Hey, I’m not the biggest drinker in the world (not to say some my friends aren’t haha), but I am from Long Island and that’s tends to happen on the weekends. I know boston is a great city, filled with tons of things to do, tons of places to see, etc. But with those things , I’m sure will come drinking/alcohol. Do I need an ID (fake obviously) as a freshman at BU to obtain alcohol? I look mature-- I’m 18 but i’m sure I could pass for about 20. What do freshman do in order to get alcohol or in order to get into bars? Are these $300 fines for catching someone with a fake ID really enforced?..</p>
<p>You should note that Boston is the most strict place I've ever lived in terms of underage drinking. I really didn't know what people were talking about until I came here - Boston is rather insane. </p>
<p>Note: the liquor stores are hardcore. Some liquor stores ID you before you can even walk in the door, and at others, the cashiers check your ID, and then are forced to show it to a person behind another counter. And a lot of stores actually enforce that "You can't be walking with your friend buying alcohol if you don't have an ID" rule. Though I left my Fake ID at home before I came here (which I am rather happy about, because it was never confiscated and I can still use it at home), I still try and stop by the 18+ bars. But most that I've been to watch the underagers like hawks and you have to be annoyingly sneaky to drink out of a friend's drink. </p>
<p>The good news is, you'll get to know someone who is 21 soon enough to buy you booze whenever you want it. And I'm sure that there are bouncers to get to know, etc. etc. But just be wary that Boston is not a normal city. Even restaurants seem to take great care at looking at IDs before serving alcohol.</p>
<p>Ah well that kind of sucks but where there's a will there's a way i guess...obviously college isnt all about drinking but i'd like to think that i could be able to if i wanted...especially before BU's intense hockey games! I'm actually really excited about that and I'm not even the biggest hockey fan, but judging from what I heard it seems like hockey at BU is nuts (i hope). thanks for the input</p>
<p>Oh one more thing, does Boston, or rather the state of Massachussetts, sell beer in their supermarkets/7-11's? I live in New York and beer is sold in supermarkets that are open 24 hours so i never really thought of time as a concern for when I'd have to buy alcohol by. But I was in providence a few weeks ago and they only sell alcohol at liquor stores, which unfortunately close really early--is this the same case for Mass.?</p>
<p>When you go to orientation you will hear about the fake ID policy at BU. If you are found to have one, you risk being expelled from the school.</p>
<p>It is illegal for supermarkets to sell alcoholic products in Mass. so of course the Shaws Markets in the area will be of no use for those looking for alcohol. There are numerous stores in the area that do, especially in the Allston Area past West Campus. And when you attend orientation like thumper1 said, you will meet officer DeLuca who will definately let you know the consequences of being found with a fake.</p>
<p>see this kind of stuff makes me regret enrolling lol. it seem like its a bunch of nazis and no one has fun, but it's a great school so....yeah</p>
<p>haha, o dont worry, EVERYONE complains about this and dorm rules, they suck...alot. luckily, i am living in a brownstone next year with no visitation rules, but hey, there are a ton of places to go, like mit frats and northwestern.</p>
<p>i visited my brother up there back in february, he lived in an off-campus apartment with 4 other roomates. All of them had fakes and really didn't seem to have a problem getting any alcohol or getting into bars. I think especially since some of them had out of state IDs it was easier for them to buy. Yeah, I'm also sort of getting the impression that the BU ppl are nazis. But I think that for the most part, you won't get caught as long as you aren't stupid that first year.</p>
<p>if you're that alcohol-obsessed, drink at off-campus parties or at non-BU parties. pretending you're 21 at places where age is regulated is not worth the risk - unless the drink you want costs $40,000 =)</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you too much. There is still a lot of drinking that goes on here at BU. I actually don't know anyone who doesn't drink... not to say that people are drunk all the time, but people find ways to manage around it and head over to Allston and other places to drink. This is Boston here.... college kid capitol of the world... so just because you may not be able to buy booze or drink in bars doesn't mean there aren't a million other places and options where you can drink. </p>
<p>My point was that if you're coming from a place where being underage doesn't limit your options that greatly, you'll have some adjusting to do here. I used to go to school where as long as you were an adult with some form of identification, you could drink and buy booze pretty much anywhere. Sometimes I miss that adult-like bar scene because college house parties can get old quickly, but, this is Boston here, you'll never be bored.</p>
<p>Yeah, I mean basically from what my brother and his friends told me, don't be obvious because really you will get caught @ any college, especially security-tight city schools like BU.
For instance, dont throw a huge dorm party, and dont do like all your pre-gaming and **** in the dorms and be real loud about it. And dont go to a bar where you dont know for sure if they are cool or not. Just like any other town really. I think pretty soon in the year we'll figure out who you can be cool around as far as like RAs and such and who to stay away from. That part is kind of lame because its like living with your parents again, but its not like you'll be in your dorms that much anyways.</p>
<p>PS Nicole
Where are you from? Im from Atlanta which is pretty strict in most parts...but Athens (UGA) is extremely lenient about fakes. You bring in like a slip of paper and draw a stick figure license on it you will get into a bar there. But they also can't spell dog right..</p>
<p>I'm from Columbus, Ohio, but I've also lived in New York City, and Madison, Wisconsin. Madison is the most lenient as far as IDs, then maybe NYC, then Columbus. Boston is the strictest by a mile.</p>
<p>The big thing to remember with alcohol is not to be stupid and obvious. If you aren't, you can drink. This is college. If you want to drink, you will be able to find places to drink. There are always parties in Allston, at MIT Frats, etc, where they will give you something to drink. There was not a weekend first semester where there was not groups of 20 freshman trekking out down ComAve together going to a party. You won't be able to get into bars unless you have a really good fake (I have a friend who has used a fake numerous times), but you won't be cut off completely. Any organization you join will have parties and will have older members who have parties and can get you alcohol. </p>
<p>I really would not worry about it. This is just my opinion, but I don't think not being able to get into bars should be grounds for questioning a school. This is college. People will party. You just have to be smart about it. Luckily, you got into BU so you are probably pretty smart.</p>
<p>thanks for all the insight guys, it really helps. it's not that i was freaking out or legitimately regretted enrolling...but you helped a lot. I'm sure it will be alot of fun, thanks again :)</p>