Last week’s meeting among city and university officials, police officers, county liquor representatives and bar owners resulted in a $1 price floor that will affect downtown bars, city officials said.

“The bar owners appeared to voluntarily agree” on the price floor, said College Park Mayor Stephen Brayman. The $1 minimum, which was suggested by a bar owner whom Brayman would not identify, will apply to beer and rail drinks or translate into a rate of $1 per beer glass quantity in a pitcher.

The meeting was also attended by more people than Warren Kelley, an assistant vice president for student affairs at the university who attended the meeting, originally said, Brayman added. While Kelly said the meeting was organized by College Park Public Services Director Bob Ryan and included 10 various university and city officials, Brayman said the meeting was not closed-door and also included some city staff, county councilman Eric Olson, city manager Joe Nagro and five students.

Specifically discussed at the meeting were Thirsty Turtle’s 25-cent Thursday night summer railspecials, which have been criticized by university and city officials. But while Brayman said “we’re not in the business of threatening people,” the city also told bar owners at the meeting they could attempt to persuade the state to adopt legislation against such low prices, as they encourage “binge drinking and over-drinking,” Brayman added.

This week, Thirsty Turtle has changed its prices, bumping the 25-cent rails the bar has advertised all summer to $2. However, in contrast to Brayman’s statement that all the bar owners agreed on the price floor, a Facebook message sent to the members of group, “THIRSTY TUESDAYS ONE DOLLAR PITCHERS and DRINKS” Tuesday stated, “THANKS TO THE LOVELY CITY OF COLLEGE PARK WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR PRICES…SORRY GUYS…”

Thirsty Turtle co-owner Alan Wanuck could not be reached for comment.

But some students, such as senior economics and linguistics major Lori Hoglund, said the change in prices will affect their downtown habits.

“I would still go Monday nights because they have $2 Long Island iced teas, but if it were not for that, probably not,” she said. “[The price increase] is a huge switch because a lot of other people only go because of the 25-cent drinks.”

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