OPINION - EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL: Tiny bubbles: Booze at UofA games

Booze at the ballgames

News coming down from the hill: The University of Arkansas is making beer and wine available to the general public at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium this season. Now those that are so inclined can grab a drink when watching the piggies play.

In these latitudes, nobody wants to go to a Philadelphia Eagles game. Some of those people weren't raised right. But a few beers or a few plastic cups of wine probably won't turn the UofA into Lincoln Financial Field. Why not? Because it hasn't happened yet.

Beer and wine has been available to some customers already--in private club areas and suites. You know, the fancy seats. Now it'll be available to everybody else.

You-know-who lives in the details. So here are a few:

Since the SEC made its decision in May--that member schools could, if they choose, sell alcohol in public areas--several schools have decided to pop a top. We suppose alcohol consumption will actually drop at LSU (it can't go higher), and, believe it or not, Kentucky--Kentucky!--has decided to not allow alcohol at games. At least not until fans get home to their bourbon cabinets.

UofA officials have said booze won't be allowed in the student section. Good idea.

And sales will stop after the third quarter. Better idea.

Other details: There'll be no coooolllllddddd beeeer! vendors walking around the seated areas. You'll have to go to a concession area. And they're not going to sell a dozen beers to a single person. Limit is two beers per person, please. ID will certainly be required.

Hunter Yurachek, the new(ish) athletic director for the Hogs, said campus officials will keep an eye out for increases in "alcohol-related incidents." And he said this whole beer- and wine-selling idea is just a trial, not a permanent change.

"This is something we can always pull back on," he told the papers.

The whole thing still has to go through certain Alcoholic Beverage Control channels. So don't pop any tops or corks yet.

This is a money-making deal. Everything is nowadays. And when you shell out $7 for a beer or $9 for a cup of wine, the university ought to see some real profit.

But this is also a fairness issue. The guy who paid $25 for his ticket should be allowed to enjoy the game with a beer--especially since the corporate chief who paid a house note for his ticket can already do the same several floors up in his suite. And if the place turns into LSU-North, the university can always change its mind.

John Lennon once addressed a crowd by telling those in the cheap seats to clap their hands. "And the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewelry." He and the band were playing at the Royal Variety Performance in London, in which the queen was in attendance.

We don't have royalty in the colonies. Give us a beer. And when we call the Hogs, we'll drown out any rattling jewelry.

Editorial on 08/05/2019

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