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Forget cover charges and dress codes, the Web site watering hole -- which says it has 780,000-plus members -- offers those 18 and older the opportunity to mingle without leaving the comfort of their computers.

Users earn "cherry bucks'' for interacting and can cash them in at the virtual gift store to buy presents for other users. A plethora of goods, from gag gifts like a pair of beer goggles or a chill pill to flirtier ones -- a condom or fuzzy handcuffs -- are available there.

Co-founders Bill Lee, Mike Hed- lund and Ryan Riccitelli "scraped together money off credit cards and bummed from friends," Lee says, to start the site, which is free of pop-up and banner ads and simulates their own pub experiences. Though CherryTap is not based on any bar in particular, the men liken it to the one in "Cheers."

Users start out with Fresh Meat status and can work their way up to Cherry Godfather by referring friends to the site and taking advantage of the activities offered -- from rating people's photos to sending a "secret crush" to someone they admire.

For those in need of advice, CherryTap has its own version of a bartender -- a feature called MUMM (Make Up My Mind) where patrons can post questions -- from which outfit to wear to whether they should dump their boyfriend -- so other members can respond. Volunteer bouncers using screen names like Kinky, Suga and Baracudda patrol the site to ensure that adult content is not posted in public areas. Various lounges provide varying vibes and types of music.

Named for Hedlund's fondness for Hansen's cherry soda (he drinks six or seven cans a day, but said he's cutting back) and a beer tap, CherryTap is the friends' version of a teenybopper-free MySpace or Facebook. Members have profiles where they can download photos and receive messages.

Headquartered in Lee's Los Altos home, the company, which has amassed users around the world including U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and a few verified celebrities like Gary Busey (cherrytap.com/garybusey). Riccitelli, 34, has since moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he continues to play an active role in the company.

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