PNC Bank Arts Center

The PNC Bank Arts Center has become party central for concert goers in central New Jersey. According to the Star-Ledger, "Somewhere between Barry Manilow and Ozzy Osbourne, the arts center developed a reputation among the young and not so young as the place in Central Jersey to drink or get high before a concert."

But effective last Friday, alcohol has been banned in the parking lot. Why? Because two people died and more than 80 people were arrested last Thursday night at an Ozzfest concert.

The two men, 26 and 24 years old, dies of a combination of drinking and drug use, specifically cocaine. Everyone is pushing for beefed-up police and a strong anti-drinking message, but as long as they sell beer at inflated prices in the venue, can they really claim they care about change?

Pass me the six-pack

The concert season opened in May with a Gwen Stefani concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center that numerous minors were hospitalized for due to drinking. Local and state politicians went crazy, and really stressed that underage drinkers would be targeted and caught, and publicized the fact that there would be an added state police presence at the arts center parking lots.

Well, all of that attention occurred, and this week state police made numerous arrests for underage drinking outside the Fall Out Boy concert. But one thing that added state police presence hasn't done...stopped kids from drinking in the parking lot. Or attending with an older friend, and having them buy beer for them at concessions.

Here's just a taste of the media frenzy:

Cops Targeting Underage Drinking at PNC Bank Arts Center

Police clamp down at PNC Bank Arts Center

PNC Bank Arts Center to crack down on teen drinking