The below passages are taken from Berkeley, A City in History by Charles Wollenberg.
Mr. Wollenberg explains that in the late 1800's when Berkeley was still somewhat two communities "with very different roots and traditions; the differences between those communities have been a part of Berkeley history ever since. When Berkeleyans distinguish between 'the hills and the flats,' or 'East Berkeley and West Berkeley, they are referring in part to divisions that derive from the city's dual origins."
This division between the two communities resulted in some interesting laws and regulations, one of them being a two mile dry zone around the university campus. He has detailed the origin of this law here: East vs. West
"Along with the social and economic differences, were some very specific points of conflict. Shortly after the university occupied its new buildings, a delegation of state legislators visited Berkeley and witnessed a group of somewhat wobbly undergraduates returning from a drinking bout in the hills. The result was a law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages within two miles of campus. This would have closed down taverns in Ocean View, a matter of no little concern to that hardworking and often hard-drinking community. The limit was reduced to one mile, but that caused other problems. Soon there were new bars opening in Ocean View catering to students
who were not known for their sobriety. Ocean View parents claimed their community was plagued by drunk and disorderly louts from the university who were leading the town youth astray."
While we are not inherently wobbly, drunken, disorderly, louts, leading the town youth astray. We figure it's not that far from the truth. Rest assured we respect the laws of today and are concentrating on those over 21 years of age. Although not so much can be said for our respect of the 2 Mile dry zone.
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