The last call at MarBar last night came not from the bartenders, but from the police.
State Liquor Control Board agents, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State Police, conducted a sting operation and issued an estimated 40 to 50 citations for underage drinking at the bar, located near 40th and Walnut streets.
At about 11 p.m., just as the bar was filling up, a mix of uniformed and undercover police revealed badges to MarBar's patrons.
"We were sitting there, and a horde of cops came in," Temple junior Allison Fink, 21, said.
One Wharton freshman, who refused to give his name, was at the bar when the sting began.
"The lights came on, and everyone started scattering," he said.
About 10 to 12 uniformed police entered and told patrons that if they were 21, they could leave by showing identification, he added.
According to the freshman, about 15 patrons then tried to leave using fake IDs and were caught by the police.
Those violators, along with patrons who voluntarily admitted their age, were then instructed by the police to fill out citations.
Many of those cited, apparently those who did not show or have real identification, were forced to call their parents to confirm their identity.
The violators slowly trickled out over the next hour and a half. Some were visibly upset and many pulled out their cell phones as soon they exited.
"I got into the bar, I had a drink and I got busted," said a Temple junior who refused to give her name.
At midnight, there were still more than a dozen patrons filling out citations in the booths lining the window.
MarBar employees refused to comment.
A College freshman, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that he and six of his friends, none of whom had yet had drinks, were able to leave the bar without citations.
He also estimated that about half of attendees were issued citations.
Despite being told, "We know you're drinking, tell us now" by police, the group waited and was eventually breathalyzed and released.
He said that one police officer told him it was the "biggest bust I've ever seen."
