It isn’t as though Cameron Halstead couldn’t find where to buy beer in Isla Vista; he was tired of paying too much for it. Out of that frustration, CampusBooze.com was created.

The UCSB graduate had difficulty finding the cheapest local alcohol and decided to create a one-stop Web site for those of age. Through a year of research, social media and viral marketing, the site has squeezed its way into the minds of thousands of college students on California campuses.

“I thought of the idea with some friends over a pitcher of Sierra Nevada,” Halstead said.

Like many entrepreneurs, Halstead has no business degree or even a background. He’s a global studies major with an emphasis in German.

He said he had recalled one day when he bought a 12-pack of Beck’s from a store for $12.99 and then saw another store selling the same beer for $9.99 just down the street.

“You never knew who would be running the specials,” he said.

Motivated, Halstead spent last summer in Europe where he, over another pitcher of beer, drafted a plan on how to execute a business that would keep the prices of beer and other popular alcohol at area stores on tap.

The hard work began when he came back to Isla Vista, as he quit his job at Freebird’s restaurant and began selling his idea door-to-door, looking for volunteer workers.

“I went around knocking on every door,” Halstead said. “I asked people first if they were 21 and then if they were, if they drank. More often than not I got the door slammed in my face.”

It was through this plea for support he found Ian Watson, a City College student and Santa Barbara High School graduate.

“Ian was the first guy who really wanted to help out,” Halstead said. Watson was also responsible for bringing fellow Santa Barbara classmate and student in City College’s media arts department Donnie Hedden to redesign Halstead’s initial Web site.

“The first site I made looked like it was from 1996,” Halstead said.

The new site, the third version according to Hedden, currently features 15 college campuses. By selecting one, the user is prompted to choose his or her choice of alcohol. CampusBooze’s database finds the store with the lowest price and within the nearest distance.

“Price is not the only deciding factor,” Halstead said. “It’s also distance and quantity. It doesn’t make sense to drive from Santa Barbara to Costco (in Goleta) for one bottle.”

The site also features a calculator to factor in tax and the California Redemption Value charge in a shopping list.

But the guys in charge haven’t forgotten about the responsibility of marketing alcohol to college students.

“We’re being really wary,” Hedden said. “There’s a disclaimer on the site modeled after ones on other sites promoting alcohol.” The site also includes a list of ways to stay safe while drinking, such as avoiding drunk driving and using the buddy system.

CampusBooze’s biggest way of marketing has been through the social networking site Facebook.

“The first Facebook group we created generated 3,000 members,” Hedden said. He says the new fan page is updated about once a week, not often enough to irritate its fans with constant notes in the news feed.

Halstead says more schools are being considered constantly, and the target market is going to remain the college student.

“It’s a huge market to tap into,” he said. “Even if half of the college population drinks it’s still a lot of people. Eventually it can be graduates and caterers, for example.”

Competition is also becoming a greater concern, with rival sites such as Jackweiser.com and Campusbeer.com making their way into California. But Hedden and Halstead hold out hope for profitability.

“The goal is to create something sustainable where stores can supply the prices and bid for being higher on the list,” Hedden said.

Halstead added that being a Web-only business has lowered costs dramatically, allowing for growth.

“Things are moving quickly,” he said.