Alcoholic Beverages

Plunk yourself down at the bar at L.A.'s El Carmen, and order up a couple of shots--one tequila, one mescal. Well-known as a repository of tequila, El Carmen also has the best selection in town of mescal, a similar liquor from a different part of Mexico. Mescal's the stuff that sometimes comes with a worm in the bottle--but that's the type to avoid.

As colleges focus increasingly on the problem of alcohol on campus, a survey from the Harvard School of Public Health shows that more college students than ever are drinking with the sole purpose of getting drunk. Data released here this month from the school's 1997 College Alcohol Study also show that four of five fraternity and sorority members are binge drinkers.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opposing efforts by Utah hospitality and tourism industry officials to ease liquor regulations in the state. At a hearing Tuesday before state liquor officials, the church repeated its stand that "existing policies on alcohol use are sound and should not be liberalized. The state should strictly control the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages."

Two Capistrano Valley High School students returned to school Tuesday after a three-week suspension by the school district, which is moving to expel them for drinking rum on a spring-break trip to Europe with the school band and drill team. Orange County Superior Court Judge William F. McDonald ordered the girls reinstated on Monday, pending the outcome of a May 20 hearing. Despite that, the Capistrano Unified School District plans to continue expulsion proceedings, said Supt. James A.

Overturning a recommendation made by the Planning Commission last month, the City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance banning all alcohol and tobacco advertisements on billboards within the city limits. Last month, despite pleas from residents and activists for a total ban, the Planning Commission approved an ordinance allowing the billboards within the city limits if they are in a commercial zone and more than 1,000 feet from schools, parks, playgrounds and child care centers.

A police operation that involved underage decoys trying to buy alcoholic beverages at 73 stores ended with only one arrest, authorities said Friday. An employee of Rite Aid at 2790 Los Angeles Ave. was arrested for furnishing alcohol to a minor during the April 30 sting on Simi Valley retailers, according to Police Chief Randy G. Adams. The employee was released at the store after receiving a written citation, Adams said.

For audiences at one British movie house, the traditional smells of popcorn and chocolate ice have recently been replaced by the odor of the finest juniper berries from Umbria, Italy. Moviegoers at the Ritzy, an independent cinema in south London, have been taking part in a trial of Aromarama technology, during which juniper--the key ingredient in gin--is piped through the air conditioning while the audience watches a screen ad for the drink.

The nation's top broadcast regulator agreed Monday to delay until July a vote on whether the Federal Communications Commission should open an inquiry into liquor advertising on radio and television. FCC Chairman Reed Hundt said he removed the item from Thursday's agenda at the request of Commissioner Rachelle Chong. Chong and Commissioner James Quello have argued that the FCC does not have jurisdiction over liquor advertising.

Few things--with the possible exception of mothers and Philadelphia--have been so mythicized and misunderstood, politicized and polemicized as the humble martini. Now this perfumed bushwhacker is back, enjoying a fresh legitimacy alongside cigars and noisy motorcycles as we, by the several millions, exert our individuality.