After receiving little public reaction, state representatives said they have no plans to amend recently passed legislation that limits all-ages entertainment at local venues.

The new law, part of a larger bill passed by state legislature, made changes to Pennsylvania liquor laws. A section of the bill raised the mandatory number of chaperones -- non-employee individuals over the age of 25 -- who must be in attendance at establishments with liquor licenses when minors are present.

At least one local all-ages show has been canceled because of a lack of older patrons.

Michael Desmond, part-owner of Players Nite Club, 112 W. College Ave., cancelled the establishment's 18-and-over night Tuesday.

"The effects on the business are great," Desmond said, adding that the new law makes it nearly impossible to get enough chaperons for minors to attend events.

Without those needed chaperons, he said the night club's ability to hold well-attended shows for 18-and-over students, as well as 13-and-over shows during the summer, will be severely constrained.

"It's a shame that young people are being denied the opportunity to get off campus and have some fun in a safe environment," Desmond said.

Desmond also said the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association began working on ways to get the law changed this week.

Currently, the association is looking into which lawmaker sponsored the law and the reason behind it with the hope a solution can be found to suit everyone.

Desmond said he believes the law was changed because of venues serving alcohol to minors in other parts of the state where liquor laws are not as well enforced as State College. He encouraged students to contact legislators to help get the law changed.

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, who signed the bill, said his office has only been contacted twice about the change in state liquor laws, once by a business proprietor and once by a student.

The proprietor, Benninghoff said, called his office before the law went into effect last Friday to give him a "heads up" on the law change and its possible economic impacts.

Benninghoff said the student expressed concern about not having non-alcoholic activities to attend.

In response to the student's concern, Benninghoff said plenty of activities are available through Penn State that do not involve drinking. He also pointed out that the law is simply a change in the number of people over 25 years old that must be in attendance. Before, there had to be one chaperone for every 50 minors. Now there must be one for every five minors.

"I think it is a misconception to say [students under 21] are banned from these areas of entertainment," Benninghoff said.

He also defended the legislation, saying its author had good intentions in trying to fix the large problem of underage drinking. He added that there are no plans at this time to change the law.

"I don't think there is a major groundswell to do that yet," Benninghoff said.

State Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, received four e-mails about the law change, all complaints from Penn State students, executive assistant Don Houser said.

Houser said the number of responses is considered relatively small, and added there is no reason to immediately change the rule.

He said if the new law causes economic harm, then changing it would be considered. But at the moment, Houser said there is no reason to do anything because possible problems are still unknown.

"Let's see the impact," he said.

Adam Wood (sophomore-visual arts) said he and his friends frequently went to all-ages concerts. He said he hopes enough chaperones can be found so he can keep going downtown for entertainment.

He added he doesn't like the fact that such restrictions are being put on shows that admit people under 21.

"It's ridiculous to me," he said.

Wood said he doesn't see Penn State activities as being able to replace all-ages shows. The problem, he added, is it defeats the purpose of getting away from school.

"[Penn State activities] won't be able to compare," Wood said.