University Of Maryland Very Likely To Allow The Sale Of Alcohol At Sporting Events Starting In The Fall

 

Maryland 24.7 - If you enjoy having a cold beer or a glass of wine while you watch the Terps play, you might be in luck — the University of Maryland appears to be in the final stages of approving sales of alcohol at school sporting events. Maryland president Wallace Loh Tuesday posted a public request for feedback on a proposal that would allow the school to sell beer and wine to legal-age attendees at games beginning next fall. As earlier reported by InsideMDSports, the proposal passed a big test in late March, when the school’s athletic council voted 16-to-1 in favorof the proposal, which was submitted by the school’s student government association in March 2014. “From everything I’ve heard, [Loh] is going to approve it,” said Patrick Ronk, the SGA’s president. “I think they’ll [then] need final approval from the [Prince George’s County] liquor board, but I think they’ve already said they’re fine with it.” The proposal includes not only revenue-related arguments — Ronk said rough estimates have Maryland generating around $400,000 a year from the sales — but also cites multiple studies concluding that in-game sales decrease binge drinking at games; fans are less likely to over-drink before games, they say, if alcohol is available inside the gates. The alcohol revenue would be earmarked not for athletics, but instead would fund “activities such as mental health services, responsible drinking initiatives and diversity training,” according to Loh’s statement. As of this school year, 32 Division I schools are selling alcohol at sporting events, including Big Ten member Minnesota. West Virginia, which began selling beer in 2011, has reported declines in alcohol-fueled rowdy behavior at games and made at least $500,000 in revenue from sales each season.

 

One of the worst feelings in the world is when you’re drunk and out of alcohol. I wouldn’t wish that feeling on my biggest enemy. And that’s why a lot of people don’t like going to college games- you have to stop drinking the second you enter the building (airplane bottles nonwithstanding). So obviously this is a great idea and just another reason Maryland is the King of the Big 10. Get drunk before the game, stumble your way into the game, and keep on chugging. Now there’s no reason for the bros and the hoes to stay at the pregame or go to the bar for the game. All the alcohol you want will be right there in Byrd and Comcast (editors note: calling it Xfinity sounds weird, what do you kids on campus call it?). So now you won’t just have to get drunk, you’ll be able to stay drunk. Everyone wins.