Every Monday night a beer pitcher can be found at the entrance of Tatoo. But the pitcher is not filled with beer -- it is filled with condoms.

Everyone who goes to Ladies Night at Tatoo, 420 E. College Ave., can pick up a free condom when they walk in.

Tatoo General Manager Larry Moore said distributing the condoms is a way to deal with a reality of life.

"People are going to do it," Moore said. "This is promoting their safety."

Tatoo has been distributing Trojan-Enz brand latex condoms with nonoxynol-9 every Monday since the beginning of January and will continue as long as the promotion remains popular, Moore said.

But not all of Tatoo's patrons at this Monday's Ladies Night welcomed the giveaway.

"In a way it promotes sex more than it promotes safe sex," said Chris McGinnis (junior-professional golf management).

However, Brent Patterson (sophomore-engineering) said he thinks the owners of Tatoo are simply promoting reality.

"It's realistic; you can't live in a fairy-tale world. If they do it, they have to be safe," he said.

Moore said condoms are frequently used in promotions for businesses across the country. In addition to distributing condoms on Monday nights, Moore said they will occasionally shoot them out of a confetti cannon on other nights.

The open display of condoms at Tatoo's door made some patrons feel uncomfortable.

"It's kind of an embarrassment," said Harold Woodruff of State College. "I mean you walk in the door and they're pushing condoms."

Embarrassment sometimes discourages people from buying condoms, said Elaine Jurs, assistant director of the Office of Health Promotion and Education at University Health Services.

"But the embarrassment is decreasing," Jurs said. "People, including women, are becoming more assertive about the right to protect themselves."

Moore said the reason he chose Monday to distribute the condoms was to encourage business on what is traditionally a slow night of the week.

Bonnie Hyman (senior-exercise and sports science) said Ladies Night is a good time to hand them out because women are often more embarrassed than men to buy condoms.

"If they feel uncomfortable, at least they could get one here," Hyman said, but added that it is unfortunate some women are intimidated.

"It's a condom, it's not something that's going to kill you -- in fact, it could save your life," she said.