Originally Posted by SouthernHawk 
I hate to say this - and I'm sure I'll get called out for it, but whatever.
The difference is that in Iowa City, if an underage kid is caught with alcohol, they are written up. Regardless of how stupid they were being. I've seen people ID'd and ticketed walking down the street carrying a 12 pack.
In Ames, the police are quite a bit easier on that sort of thing.
Well, then I'd suggest not walking down the sidewalk with a 12 pack. I've seen kids in campus town walk from house to house to house looking for a party and carrying a 12 pack or bigger. I've seen the same in Iowa City. The difference? The police nab you for it in IC. And I saw that during ONE weekend in IC. If I can learn that in a 2-night stay, don't you think a kid could learn that over the course of a semester or school year (not particularly this kid in question, but in general)?
Adjust your activity (especially if it's "illegal") to suit the government/enforcing agency in the area around you.
