With so many universities in the metropolitan Boston area, you could say that Beantown is a college town. In many cases, it’s true. But, as I found out, often times it’s a college town only for people 21 or older, which leaves freshmen and sophomores in the dust.
Last weekend, a few friends and I wanted to go bowling. The alley underneath Fenway Park has candlepin bowling lanes, but we all wanted tenpin bowling. So, I suggested we try King’s Bowling Lanes and Billiards, a new tenpin bowling alley that opened up over the summer next to the Prudential Center.
Excited that we were about to have an eventful Saturday night, we walked over to the alley, showed our IDs and were promptly told, “Sorry guys, can’t let you in.”
That’s right; King’s has a 21+ policy after 6 p.m. everyday. I was outraged and asked the bouncer if I had to be 21 to bowl. He responded by telling me that the place had three bars in there and then he sent us on our way.
I normally frequent Jillian’s, the pool hall on Ipswich Street behind Fenway Park, and they have plenty of bars. Yet, they are wise to realize that there are plenty of 18-20 year olds who are looking to have a good time at night. So, they stamp those who are 21+ so that they can drink while the minors get to do what they want to do: shoot pool or play video games. The adults get their booze, the minors have their fun and Jillian’s gets their money. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
King’s isn’t the only place that has this policy. Some pool halls around the area have a 21+ policy after a certain hour. Some clubs won’t let you in at all unless you’re of age. Even if it’s the Super Bowl and you don’t have a television and all you want to do is see the game, a bar won’t even consider it.
Boston truly is a great college town. But, it only seems to cater to those who are willing to pay exorbitant prices for alcohol. When will places like King’s realize that while they get a lot of money from people looking to drink, they can get so much more if they allow the underclassmen in too? This may be a college town, but college students don’t start out at age 21. The freshmen and sophomores need places to go too.
The ones who are too young to legally drink are left out in the cold. Well, I guess that when I want to go out at night, I’ll just stick to Jillian’s and the movie theaters. It seems like those are the only places I can go to, until I hit 21.
— Thomas Chen is a sophomore journalism major.
