Asked the number of times per year students are caught with alcohol, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis wrote in an e-mai message "[W]e don't attempt to catch students with alcohol. Most often alcohol-related incidents come to our attention either because of a related disciplinary matter...or a medical emergency.

"The number of students who are caught violating Harvard's alcohol policies varies, according to Lewis.

"It would be hard to estimate numbers, since this is such a mixture of categories; if a loud party has to be broken up, there could be dozens of students present, but we might go weeks without a medical emergency," he writes.

Lost Cause?

So was the first-year students' arrests last year effective in deterring them-and others-from making illegal purchases again?

"I think if they're gonna have the law that you can't buy, it does make sense for them to enforce it," one of the busted buyers says.

"I don't have any anger or any bitterness."

He says the police treated him no differently than other citizens.

"They were pretty normal. We were breaking the law."

And the former first year says his ordeal affected his community of friends.

"Definitely, I noticed a difference. Usually, people who were willing to take the risk [didn't.]"

But the student says the problem is not as widespread as it seems.

"A liquor store--a serious liquor store, will always ask for I.D."

Asked to name specific stores in the Square that have a reputation for selling alcohol to underage kids, the student said only "convenience stores were usually easier."

Store 24's Quikstrom insists he doesn't ever sell to underage kids, but understands the lure.

"They feel it's a form of rebellion," he says. "Take away the rebellion and then there isn't a problem.