The Ames Police Department has not cited any businesses for selling alcohol to people under 21 since November 2012, but underage people are still being provided with alcohol.

The Police Department investigated minors being provided with alcohol in early September. During the investigation, 11 individuals were arrested for providing alcohol to people younger than 21 years of age. Three individuals were actually cited for providing alcohol to underage people.

Alec, a senior in kinesiology, said that he has provided alcohol to underage people. Alec turned 21 last February and since then has provided alcohol twice to two close friends who propositioned him.

“They reached out to me,” Alec said. “I was fine with it. I just went and bought it and brought it over to wherever they were. I didn’t really think anything of it.”

Both times Alec said he went to a small liquor store that was closest to his house and bought a case of beer for his friends. He also said that he would not provide for someone he did not previously know because the risk of getting caught is too high at that point.

“I wouldn’t reach out to anyone. I wouldn’t be the person to do that, but if someone needed a favor I would probably be okay with it,” he said.

Alec said he knows someone who was found providing to underage people at a bar, but said “it wasn’t too hefty of a consequence.”

Diana Wegner, 28-year-old junior in pre-integrated studio arts, said she feels very differently about providing alcohol to underage people and her involvement in the restaurant business has helped influence her opinion.

“I do think it’s a bad idea to give it to minors in general because it’s unhealthy,” Wegner said. “They need to be safe; they need to understand boundaries.”

Wegner, who works at a bar in Des Moines, said she has never provided alcohol illegally.

“In my bar, I have had people come in in a big group where I’ve ID’d everybody, and I notice there will be an instance where one person in the party will be 21 and everyone else won’t be, and they’ll try and order like three beers at a time,” Wegner said.

For Wegner, the risks of getting caught are among her reasons for not providing alcohol to underage people.

“I need money. I need to be in school, and restaurants provide the best way for me to make enough money to work and stay in school. I could go to jail,” Wegner said. “I’ve been around that environment that’s very strict. I’ve always just taken it seriously. It’s not something I’m willing to risk because I know of the potential consequences.”

However, unlike ISU students who provide for close friends or have close friends as providers, Wegner said she would not consider providing even for a friend or family member.

“In my own home if I had a 20-year-old cousin I would ask my aunt or uncle — if I had a type of wine — would you mind if I let them try it just so they can understand wine is enjoyed,” Wegner said. “It’s not consumed to get drunk.”

Another of Wegner’s reasons for believing underage people should not be provided with alcohol is because she believes alcohol may be abused.

“I think that part of being a responsible parent and a responsible adult around teens is allowing children to understand that alcohol consumption is acceptable as long as it’s controlled and treated in a responsible manner,” Wegner said.

To reduce illegal alcohol consumption, the Ames Police Department will be conducting similar investigations intermittently throughout the academic year.