One of the latest Twin Cities controversies revolving around sports in the sale of alcohol at the new Gopher's football stadium. Initially there was going to be no sale of alcohol and then the proposal changed to allowing alcohol sales in just special (premium) seating areas. This proposal was struck down and the stadium wide ban kicked in. This legislative session the proposal's been brought back. People are in an uproar. They think that there should be either no alcohol sales or alcohol should be sold everywhere in the stadium. The most vocal group is the group advocating sale in the whole stadium. They're opposed to the limited sale proposal because it's not egalitarian. If the big spenders can drink a beer then everybody in the stadium should get to have a BEvERage. They would prefer alcohol sales in the whole stadium - in theory as a fund raiser for the school, but really it's so people can drink during a COLLEGE football game.
Here are some facts about the current alcohol policies.
1. The U of M Twin Cities campus is a dry campus. (officially)
2. Alcohol is allowed in designated tailgating areas.
3. Alcohol is not sold in Williams Arena where the basketball team plays.
4. Alcohol is sold/served in Mariucci Arena (where the hockey team plays) with school permission and only in premium seating areas.
Based on those policies there's no reason to allow a special exception for the football stadium. Colleges don't sell alcohol at their games. I heard earlier about there being nothing wrong with letting fans sitting in the stands have a drink. It didn't matter to the commentator that many or most of the student fans in the stands are not of legal drinking age. Football and beer go together and the school has no business denying people the opportunity to drink. So, would it be ok to sell alcohol at high school games? I'm not a moralist. I'm not opposed to drinking. I'm not even especially opposed to letting people under 21 drink. That's not the issue. The issue is that colleges are trying to prevent binge drinking and irresponsible, unsafe behavior. went to a college that had one of the most liberal alcohol policies in the country and alcohol was banned at sporting events ( except lacrosse). If people want to stop tuition and fee increases at the U then let them pay more taxes and not worry about drinking at football games.
1) Why was it ok to drink at lacrose games and not other school events?
ReplyDelete2) I don't agree with your raise taxes/no beer policy because it is also unfair unless you're talking about a tax specifically for school events. No reason to tax people not using the service.
3) Either everyone can drink or no one can drink.