Students know where to find a drink, and on campus, Walgreens has never been one of those places. But beginning next year, the convenience store will add alcohol to its selection of ramen noodles, cold medicine and Hallmark cards.

Robert Elfinger, Walgreens’ spokesman, said Walgreens Co. will file alcohol license applications by the end of this year and start shelving alcohol by about next fall. The stores will stock beer, wine, and other “moderate selections,” he said.

“We are adjusting to customer’s demand,” Elfinger said. “Wine and beer has become more mainstream in America with Food Network and other culinary institutions that are showcasing a pairing of good wine with food.”

Walgreens stopped stocking alcoholic beverages in the mid-1990s due to the difficulty of managing the supply.

“It was very cumbersome before, where we had full liquor departments,” Elfinger said. “Most of the manager’s time was spent running this part of the store. This is going to be a much more scaled down version and centrally controlled, so most of the work will be taken out of the store and done corporately.”

Walgreens’ store locations are convenient for many people, Elfinger said, making its decision a benefit for both consumers and the corporation.

Tom Conlon, junior in LAS, said Walgreens’ location on campus is ideal for students and may lead to success for the store’s alcohol sales. Conlon, a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, said he goes out for a drink an average of three to four nights a week for social engagements and exchanges.

“I would seriously consider buying alcohol at Walgreens, I mean, the Walgreens here is only two blocks from my apartment, which is very convenient,” Conlon said. “It’s at the heart of Greet Street. Location is almost 100 percent of the deal.”

As a chain store, Walgreens has many advantages, Conlon said. He said it can offer a lower price for the alcoholic beverages it shelves than local liquor stores can.

“There are two small liquor stores less than a block away from Walgreens,” Conlon said. “I definitely think that they will feel the affect of it.”

Home Town Pantry, located on 6th and Green streets, is one of many local liquor stores on campus. Jignesh Panchal, store manager, said the store’s revenue and profit from past years has been steady, mostly due to the high demand for store merchandise from college students.

“Any competition is going to affect business, no matter what,” Panchal said.

Panchal added that Walgreens will be able to keep prices lower than its competitors, leaving an uncertain financial future for small liquor businesses.

“We can fight back,” Panchal said. “One person cannot do much, but by talking to others (liquor business owners), we can do something.”