UNIVERSITY TIMELINE

Timeline of How UW-Madison Students Navigate Drinking Culture and Bars

1st Semester Freshman

2nd Semester Sophomore

Incoming Freshman

1st Semester Sophomore

2nd Semester Sohomore

Without a good fake ID, most are still going to City Bar. But, many sohomores begin trying to get a real ID, an ID of someone 21+ that looks likes them. With this, sophomores start going to Monday's and State Street Brats.

Freshmen start trying other bars and using fake IDs more. Wando's and Churchkey are popular amongst 2nd semester freshmen if they have a good fake ID. Drinking at fraternity parties becomes more popular as students join Greek life.

Sophomores crowd City Bar, Danny's and Wando's. Knowing a bouncer at a bar helps with getting in with a fake ID. Sophomores move away from the freshmen bars and might try to get into 'better bars' with the right connections.

Freshmen learn where to drink through upperclassmen and peers. Lucky's 818 and Sconnies are the main spots to go as a new freshmen. But, without a fake ID, students cannot get into bars and will drink in their dorms instead.

With 75 bars to choose from they must learn to navigate where to use their fake IDs. Students buy fake IDs online from illegal websites or might use an ID from a sibling/family member. Most freshmen don't have an idea of the bars and parties students go to until they get to school.

Timeline of How UW-Madison Students Navigate Drinking Culture and Bars

2nd Semester Junior

1st Semester Junior

Post- Graduation

Pre-Graduation

Senior Year

The Year of 21st Birthdays! Those with early birthdays are lucky, but most are stuck at City Bar, Danny's, Wando's and the rest of the sophomore bars. Unless you are 21 or have a real ID, many have a hard time getting into bars where the 21+ crowd go.

The majority of students turn 21 during 2nd semester, opening the gates to all 75 bars in Madison. For juniors, the popular bars are Monday's, Whiskey Jacks, Brats and Chasers.

Going into the real world, they pass down their knowledge of the bars and drinking culture to younger and incoming students to help them navigate the bars and drinking culture of Madison. The Library and townie bars are popular for graduate students at UW Madison

Most seniors are now 21 and have been waiting 4 years to use their own ID to get into bars. The most popular senior bars are the KK and the Double U, but seniors enter a new world of being legally able to drink.

Seniors take a trip down memory lane and visit the bars they went to as freshmen and sophomores. Many sell their IDs to underage friends hoping to get into the "good bars". The KK and the Double U are the place to be as a senior to see everyone from the past 4 years.