The Fat Cat, a popular bar and live music venue near the University of Southern Mississippi, has introduced a new entry fee for patrons under the age of 21. The change, implemented in March, is aimed at maintaining business sustainability while allowing underage visitors to attend events.
The Fat Cat, located close to the USM’s Hattiesburg campus, regularly hosts a variety of events, including trivia nights, karaoke, drag shows, and movie screenings. While many of these events have a general admission fee, as of March, the venue began charging an additional fee for patrons under 21.
Fat Cat owner Kade Hamilton explained the reasoning behind the new charge, stating that although the bar welcomes guests aged 18 and older, most of its revenue comes from food and alcohol sales. Guests under 21, who are not legally allowed to purchase alcohol, were contributing less to the business.
“Understandably, there are people upset about us deciding to charge people who are under 21,” Hamilton said. “Basically, we have noticed that there are a lot of people who are under 21 that come in, especially with our big events, which is fine. But we are a bar, and especially with our limited capacity, people who are under 21 cannot contribute to our income. The main way we make money is from our food and alcohol sales, so to continue our service in our space that we are providing, we had to make the difficult decision to either become a 21-and-older bar or charge extra to people who can’t contribute.”
Hamilton emphasized that the entrance fee does not go to the Fat Cat, but to the performers or event hosts. The bar itself continues to rely on sales at the bar to stay afloat. By charging underage patrons extra, Hamilton said, they can continue to offer a space for those who cannot drink while supporting the business.
Some Southern Miss students have expressed mixed reactions to the new fee. While some are concerned that it might limit access to events for younger students, others view it as a necessary step for the business.
“It was surprising to find out I had to pay extra,” said Alexis Duran, a sophomore at USM. “I knew I would have to pay, but I was not expecting the price that I got. I feel like it might make it harder for some college students to get in considering our smaller income, but I love the atmosphere, so even though getting in is a little more expensive for me, I’m still going to go and pay the extra money. Sometimes it costs to have a nice night out.”
Hamilton noted that the fee for under-21 patrons will not apply to all events but will be in place for some. Despite the changes, he hopes everyone will still be able to enjoy their time at the Fat Cat.