The DeKalb city council will vote Sept. 11 on whether or not to double the minimum liquor price at DeKalb bars.

The change would most prominently affect Tuesday nights, with 50-cent draft nights possibly doubling to dollar beer nights.

Additionally, the “Happy Hour Prohibited” chapter will also force bars to eliminate one-dollar shots.

The legislation’s intent is to curb binge drinking and avoid price wars.

Mayor Frank Van Buer has said he does not want to send the message that the city condones excessive drinking.

We applaud DeKalb’s attempt to protect students and keep the community safe. However, raising the minimum price of liquor will not change drinking behavior.

The city should be concerned with making bars accountable for over-serving their patrons, as well as encouraging students to relieve their stress in a different fashion than binge drinking.

Dictating morality is not the right way to achieve Van Buer’s goal, and may be motivated by the increased revenue it will bring to the city.

In reality, students will just choose between either having half as much money at the end of the night or being half as inebriated.

The outcome of this law will have costly results for already financially challenged bar-goers who will likely drink anyway — bar or no bar — while allowing DeKalb to recoup tax dollars.

We believe the market should decide prices for alcohol, not the city. The city should concentrate on dealing with binge drinking by providing other activities and also educating those with drinking problems instead of hurting those who choose to drink responsibly without hurting their wallets.