Alcohol at the Big House!
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A new state law allows alcoholic drinks to be sold at college sporting events in Michigan.
“Authorizing the legal sale of alcohol at sporting events will bring us on equal footing with other universities, help reduce the likelihood of binge drinking before games, and bring in a heck of a lot more revenue that we can use to improve the student experience,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Or now can binge drink before game and keep the buzz going!
wait, we're not going to be forced to partake?!?!? Well fugg, I take it all back, it's not fool's gold after all!
Nothing I wrote was inaccurate. Enjoy the cold, expensive beer and watching much less of the game, I guess. I'm not here to stop you.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the game too!
does it not occur to you some of us can have a few beers during the course of a game and only have to use the restroom at halftime like everyone else? and for some people spending $80 in beers isn’t a big deal, they can easily afford it or it’s worth it for the experience?
why do you seem so mad people don’t agree with your opinion?
You are correct!
Is there anyone that actually has different expectations for alcohol in a sports stadium? Of course it will be expensive and have long lines. Which is why I think people expecting this to significantly increase alcohol related incidents are vastly over blowing things. If Michigan actually allows this, I think the overall impact to game experience would be pretty minimal.
sure, I'll bet you there will be at least one person that will initially think this will be a good thing, only to then realize it's not all that great depending on what motivates them. I am quite certain that the 25 year old version of me would have been pretty excited about it. But then I would have realized that I missed too much of an important game and decided to not do it during big, important games.
I'd honestly rather wait in a free beer line than watch whatever product of football NW and Nebraska produce.
If you are going to encourage tailgating outside of stadiums, I can't see not allowing sales inside.
People going to the game and wanting to party responsibly are safer in the stadium than outside for obvious reasons.
I confess to liking fools gold with football on saturday whether I am at the big house, a bar, or my house. now I am more likely to go to home games and be forkin over cash instead of hitting a local party store or bar and forkin over cash. Glad they are loosening up on it. the free guiness anecdote shows how different europeans are from US on this kind of stuff.
I went to LSU at Ole Miss a couple years ago. They had so many spots you could purchase beer, you were never in line for more than 5 minutes and that was at halftime. During play, you'd be in line for a minute or two max.
Dang, there will be no stopping Brian Hartline during The Game this November
Brian Ferentz is punching air right now, he doesn't visit UM or MSU this year
One of my memories of the 2015 UM-MSU game is two drunk fat dudes getting into a fist fight before the game.
It’s probably a good thing for you if this is all you remember from that game
Some of you may find this shocking...but...as a student at the University of Michigan, I did consume alcohol inside Michigan Stadium.
Please...please remain calm. There is no need for shouting...please sit back down.
Thank you.
However, despite my personal lapses in judgement...I don't think the University should sell beer during games. It won't add anything, and could become very annoying and disruptive.
Thank you for your time. I will now reflect upon my personal transgressions.
confession is good for the soul. this issue has probably been eating you up inside. all better now.
It will certainly add $$ to UM
Why are students telling UM fans to sit down? We always yelled at the alumni to stand up!
Good luck standing in those lines
Right. And where are the lines even going to be? The current concession stands are staffed mostly by high schoolers doing fundraisers through the University, and they wouldn't be allowed to dispense alcoholic beverages. Yeah, if Michigan decides to implement that this year they will need to solve some logistical issues pretty quickly.
I'm not positive but pretty sure you can be 17 and tap kegs, based on a Google search I just did and hazy memories of volunteering at the Silverdome with my track team.
I've been drinking in The Big House for over 20 years
45 years here....
Congrats! Keep on!
Started at an early age, drinking age was 18 back then. But thanks EGJ!!!
Attended my first game in 1971.
Meeeechigan 38 UCLA 0
Go Blue!!
just wait until they open the dispensary on the concourse....
There was a "dispensary" under the pine tree by the fence on the south side of the Big House.
Great news. Maybe we'll have the Grandma shotgun beer competition on the 50 yard ine between the 3rd & 4th quarters rather than in the parking lot before the game.
https://fanbuzz.com/college-football/michigan-grandmas-shotgunning-beers/
I swear to God, Mom? if I don’t keep an eye on her at all times.
She doesn’t understand how social media can wreck your life.
She is in big shit with this one.
Where can I place a bet on Mary Sue?
Hey, everybody! We're all gonna get laid!
I guess there will be....
Maybe it will make the Big House louder. The old alums may just get the liquid courage they need to stand up
Nah, I'm a loud mouth already.
The opposite of that may be true when Harold and Maude take the much needed sun-induced beer nap late 3rd quarter.
Ideally we will be up 3+ touchdowns by that point
"...help reduce the likelihood of binge drinking before games, and bring in a heck of a lot more revenue..." Let's see, what percentage of the student body at Michigan is of legal age to purchase alcohol? Logically, less than 60% of Michigan's study body is of legal age in the state.
I'm pretty sure of two things - first, this will have little - or no - effect on pregame festivities and refreshments that will be enjoyed and consumed prior to kickoff. And, since the majority of students are not of legal age - it won't impact their revenue spend associated with sales / consumption during games.
Personally, I'm not a fan of this. If anything - the game allows the entire fanbase to process what was consumed during the tailgating / game prep period.
And, a single beer sold in the stadium will cost the same as 6 to 12 pre-game beers.... I agree, it would not likely do much to lower the pre-game consumption.
And, now I'm thinking - as we wrap up our pre-game tailgate and put things away - the opportunity to say the following - "You know what, I'm not going to grab a roadie for the walk to the stadium - I'll just wait until I get through the gates - and then - wait in line for 20 minutes while I put down a twenty for a Natural Light. The Stella in my cooler - well, no need to take one with me when a Natty Light is waiting for me in the Big House."
On second thought, I don't think I'll do that. I'll have at least a six pack of Stella for me and the buds to enjoy on the stroll to the Stadium.
While a large portion of current students are not of legal drinking age, an even larger portion of actual attendees might very well be. The university shouldn't be taking into account underage minors purchasing alcohol anyway as a part of their revenue stream so I'm not sure that point sticks. Not every aspect of the gameday experience is aimed at students and definitely not on-premise alcohol sales, so why take it away from someone who meets the criteria?
Most stadiums stop selling alcohol by the 4th Q as well. Considering the legit hassle it is to stand in line, purchase a beer, make your way back to your seat, consume the beer, take a leak and then start that process again, you really don't logistically have enough time to get hammered for an entire game if you're not already messed up. If you're really trying to continue your buzz, you have about 3 or 4 beers to work with over the course of the game unless your intention is to get shit-faced in the stadium. If that's the case, I'm sure you'll be easy to spot and security will gladly escort you out.
"help reduce the likelihood of binge drinking before games"
I'm not opposed to selling beer at games, but this stated benefit is hilariously misguided. People are going to drink the same amount before games, but now they won't have the 4 hours to sober up before driving home.
Because my bladder is approximately the size of a cherry tomato, I learned very early in freshman year to not drink much before or during a game unless I wanted to spend half of it going to and from the troughs repeatedly. And there's no fucking way I'd pay $10 for a can of beer anyhow.
don, excuse me for being captain obvious, but like you even have a bladder. please.
I could be wrong, but the way this reads, this is just making the sale of alcohol at Michigan Stadium legal, if UM decides to actually implement alcohol sales. They could still decide they have no interest in implementing this, and we're all right back where we started.
Personally I don't care if they do or not, but it'd be damn hard for me to want to participate once I'm at the game. Not because of some "holier than thou, Michigan is better than this" mindset. But I don't care to participate because:
1) I don't really have much interest in spending $10 for PBR, and $15 for a Bells or Oberon.
2) Missing a part of the game to go stand in line for a beer does not sound appealing to me. Especially if its a situation where MSU, PSU, OSU or some other big OOC opponent is in town and I've already dropped $300 on my ticket. And being in a line 40 people deep at halftime just sounds terrible.
Meh. I know people say things like 'people have been sneaking alcohol in for years!' like this is no change but that is an rosy and naive view of things. Should Michigan adopt this, there will absolutely be more alcohol in the stadium and the average BAC in the stadium will rise.
Perhaps my view of the world is jaded by the absolute drunken shitshow that is my local NFL stadium and maybe your average Michigan attendee is a little more sophisticated than your average NFL attendee, but I still would rather we maintain the status quo on this one
There goes the neighborhood...
I generally smuggle in 2 half pints of Captain Morgan’s anyway. Legal or not legal, that trend will continue.
Shit, what are you, a pirate?
Do you mix it with something?
I only go to 1 game a year most years so this does not matter to me but I do think it should happen. Getting drunk at football games is the American way/
Not really a fan. I'm just not excited with people going in and out of the rows a thousand times. Especially when gameplay is happening.