The notorious day that colors Ohio University students green both inside and out had students opening bar tabs instead of books Wednesday.
Green Beer Day, an event started at Miami University, has become somewhat of an unofficial holiday for many OU students.
“Some people have said the night before Green Beer Day is like Christmas Eve — they can’t sleep,” said Betsy Stemple, a sophomore at Ohio University.
Class didn’t need to be over for celebrations to begin — some students took breaks from the bars only for class.
“I wasn’t going to go until after class, but @RedBrickAthens has some kind of magnetic pull on me #GBD,” OU student Jennifer Heitmeyer tweeted.
Other students skipped class altogether.
Many of the bars opened as early as 9 a.m., and most served green beer. Red Brick Sports Pub opened early Wednesday, and within an hour of its opening, the bar was already busy, said Tyler Downs, a student who was checking IDs at the door.
“(It’s) a little busier early this year,” Downs said. “The place filled up at about 1:00 or 1:15.”
Green Beer Day is a great day for sales, as well as tips, Downs added.
He estimated the number of people at the bars during the day is more than four times what it usually is.
Despite the busy bars, snowy weather might have dampened Green Beer Day for some students.
“I went out last year, and it was like 70 degrees,” said Lindsey O’Brien, a sophomore majoring in journalism. “I think Green Beer Day is a lot more fun when it’s warm out.”
Ohio University Police Chief Andrew Powers said Wednesday was a typical day for police and that Green Beer Day typically poses fewer problems than fests.
ld311710@ohiou.edu
