Every year thousands of Penn Staters flock to warmer and more exotic locales for the weeklong party known as spring break. The Bahamas, Daytona, Jamaica and Cancun are all frequent vacation spots during the break period.

And while in dreary old State College, fake identification and a prayer may occasionally get someone into a local bar, students often find less trouble in the warmer climates.

According to Cancun Nights, a travel magazine, the legal drinking age at the Mexican resort is 18, and to many vacationers, the restriction of "Liquor is not sold after 3 p.m. on Sundays or on national holidays" doesn't seem too restrictive.

Justin Muro (senior-management), a former visitor to Cancun who is returning for this year's spring break, spoke of a resort with even less restrictions on alcohol.

"There are no set rules," Muro said, adding that he did not see the authorities do very much to restrict alcohol consumption. Muro, who went to Cancun as part of a tour, said the tour guide shared tips with the group about how to avoid the authorities. These included" Don't have too many people in a jeep," and other advice on local laws.

The island of Jamaica, another popular spring break locale, does little to enforce drinking laws for tourists, said Reid Baker (senior-polymer science). Baker visited the island for a 10-day vacation and said alcohol use on the island is not really restricted.

"As soon as you get off the plane, they serve you rum," Baker said. He added that he doesn't believe there is a minimum drinking age, but the general rule is "as long as you have money to buy it."

On the other hand, people visiting the island will find the police tougher on drug-enforcement policies. Baker said Jamaica is trying to move away from its pro-marijuana image.

Natives are given a reward for turning in visiting drug purchasers, even if the native is the one who sold the drugs. Upon leaving the country, customs agents have been known to search through luggage and even "look through toothpaste containers" in efforts to stop the removal of drugs from the country, Baker said.

For students vacationing in the Bahamas, drinking laws are almost nonexistent. Within the Bahamas, the "sale of liquor is unrestricted and hotels usually serve drinks throughout the day," according to the Pan-Am World Guide.

During spring break, police at many vacation spots don't take the time to fully enforce the law.

Although the legal drinking age in Daytona is 21, anyone 18 or older can be admitted to a club where alcohol is served, said Becky Phillips (junior-general arts and sciences). Phillips has visited Daytona for spring break and said that if an underage person is caught with alcohol at a club, the beer will be taken away and the person will be kicked out of the bar.

Phillips added that if the police see someone with an open container, they will simply take the container away and in most instances not take any further action.