People or Profit?

A lot has been made over the past few years regarding the campus bars. Questions have been raised regarding the price of a pint of beer, the imposition of unrealistic targets and the centralisation of bar management which we are currently seeing; one has to ask, what is the point of the bars? What is it that they set out to achieve?

It is this question that is the basis for all the bar debates over the past few years as there seems to be a clear differences between how the bars are seen by the student population when compared to how they are seen by the university management. It would seem fair to say that the average student sees the campus bars as the living room of the campus accommodation where they can hang out with their mates over a nice drink while they discuss the ups and downs of the day. The University, however, appears to see the bars as a money making institute, another way for them to reach into the pockets of students following the high rent prices already seen for on-campus accommodation.

Yet, which viewpoint is correct? Should the students be given a place where they can afford to socialise in close proximity to the campus accommodation, or should the university continue to charge high prices in attempts to reach their desired targets?

It is clear to see that the current pricing plan is not keeping people in the campus bars, with the lower prices offered by bars in the town centre representing a better deal. Though, is high prices’ the best way to meet profit margins? Would it not be fair to say that a reduction in prices may result to a greater amount of unit sales, thus resulting in an increase in the profit made by the bars as well? Such a move would appear to fit both the desires of the students and demands of the University management and may make the currently empty bars once again the focus of college social life.