The Northern Star has commended DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer for sticking to his campaign promise that he would be a hard-line Liquor Commissioner.

But after Van Buer decided at Monday’s meeting to fine Mardi Gras Lanes and Lord Stanley’s for serving alcohol to minors, he took an unexpected step. Typically, student-targeted bars have been hit most heavily with fines. But with the recent fines against Mardi Gras Lanes and Lord Stanley’s, Van Buer has shown he is prepared to enforce the law with other typically non-student establishments that serve alcohol as well.

Molly’s Eatery and Drinkery and The Barn were also charged Monday with serving alcohol to minors but their hearing was postponed. The hearing for the two establishments will be April 26, which will serve as an opportunity for the Liquor Commission to show its fairness.

Though Van Buer is supposed to take past offenses into consideration, it will be interesting to see how Molly’s and The Barn will be treated, and if that treatment will be similar to the $900 fines both Mardi Gras Lanes and Lord Stanley’s will receive.

Will they be treated more harshly because of their student clientele? Speculation aside, only the hearing results will can determine the answer.

The Star is in full support of a fair and equal treatment in these hearings. Establishments that serve liquor should not be categorized or profiled by their target audience. Any establishment that breaks the rules should be punished accordingly — keyword: any.

Given Van Buer’s history, we are confident such fairness will take place, but are encouraged that a variety of bars or establishments that serve alcohol — not just the ones frequented predominantly by students — are being monitored so that the liquor laws will be enforced equally.

We hope that this is something everyone — bar owners and patrons — can agree on: Fairness is key in the handling of any legal matter, and hopefully all establishments will receive fair and equal treatment on April 26 and in the future.