The Palms Bar and Grill has changed its minimum age requirement from 19 to 21, a representative for The Palms said. The new age requirement is currently being enforced. 

The Palms is being reviewed by the New Orleans City Council for a case where a woman reported being raped March 19, 2014 by two men within the bar.

The city “is now charging The Palms with permitting improper conduct and maintaining a public nuisance,” the Uptown Messenger reported here.

The Alcohol Beverage Control Board will review The Palms June 17.

A complaint against The Palms for the March 19, 2014 rape incident suggests penalties ranging from suspending the bar’s liquor license to a stricter operating agreement.

Freshman Ivanka Reksono said The Palms needed to create a safer environment.

“I know that things have happened at The Palms recently, and I feel like they needed to take action because people know it’s not a safe environment,” Reksono said. “Women especially can’t feel comfortable just trying to have a good time at The Palms. Raising the age limit makes the population of people who go there smaller and [18-year-olds] won’t be able to go there unless they have a fake [identification].”

Sophomore Holly Hunt said she thinks The Palms could lose business with its minimum age change.

“I think it is not a good business move because most of the people who go to The Boot and Palms are freshmen and sophomores,” Hunt said. “The Palms will potentially lose out on a lot of business.”

The Palms did not respond to multiple enquiries.