12/21/24
September 20, 2009
College Stadium Tests Students for Blood-Alcohol Content: Under a new policy, students who've been kicked out of University of Minnesota football games for drunkenness can't go to another game unless they pass a test at a special breathalyser gate. "I've been puked on before," said Patrick Day, a student who approves of the change. "You know, that's just not necessary." The school's new 50,000-seat stadium has a total ban on alcohol sales.
Yes, that guy should be made a Saint...
This is a good idea in theory, but how would they police it? Are they going to keep a running list of people ejected, and then you have to show ID at the gate? Seems it would be easier is disallow anyone who looks or smells drunk...
posted by MeatSaber at 07:19 PM on September 20, 2009
They had to name the breathalyzer program "Show and Blow"?
What did they name the stadium food concessions? Snarf and Barf?
posted by beaverboard at 08:24 PM on September 20, 2009
For the record, Wisconsin named their BAC program "Show and Blow", not Minnesota.
It really only works for season ticket holders, but even that seems to be difficult to police. And, since only 9 fans are ejected each game, seems like a lot of work to police such a small group of people.
posted by dviking at 12:22 AM on September 21, 2009
And, since only 9 fans are ejected each game, seems like a lot of work to police such a small group of people.
I suppose there's a counter-argument to be made that the important thing is catching the problem drinkers (the ones whose behavior will have a disproportionately negative effect), not catching a large number of drinkers. Also, it's cumulative. Of the nine who were ejected in the first game of this season, seven are season ticket holders who must blow into the balloon to even get into the stadium next time. If they're drunk, they'll get turned away at the gate; they won't be stumbling into their seats and getting rowdy to the point where they need to be tossed out later. Or they'll take their seats sober and won't be drunken bozos. Either way, it's seven drunken bozos less in game 2, and maybe another seven gone by game 3, and so onl.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:30 AM on September 21, 2009
I think it is a great idea, and I hope it becomes a trend. Since this is a program just for students, it should be easy to enforce since students have to show their ids to get into games.
posted by bperk at 08:31 AM on September 21, 2009
students have to show their ids
Surely just the psychology majors?
posted by owlhouse at 08:40 AM on September 21, 2009
I.d.s? Id's? ID's? Identification cards?
posted by bperk at 09:57 AM on September 21, 2009
Owlhouse was making a joke.
Pretty clever actually.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:54 AM on September 21, 2009
I know. I'm not as dumb as I look.
posted by bperk at 12:30 PM on September 21, 2009
Sounds alright, but is 0.08 (if you're over 21) really the right number? I'm dubious of using it as a bright line for impaired DUI driving, but impaired football watching? I don't think I know anyone, even a freshman, who would barf or get rowdy enough to get tossed after 2-3 beers. I suppose it's only for people who've had an alcohol problem before, but still, I think they could comfortably draw the line at 0.12. (NHTSA BAC Chart)
For record keeping purposes, they should check their BAC at the time they get tossed. For some added deterrence, publish it in the campus paper along with what they did to get the boot. From what I remember, the police beat was the only thing worth reading in campus papers.
posted by bmauger at 02:02 PM on September 21, 2009
I know. I'm not as dumb as I look.
Fair enough.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:02 PM on September 22, 2009
LOL, I love the idea of posting the BAC's for the tossed fans...except, of course, that it would be a source of pride for many.
"hey, I was .23!" (or, whatever a respectable BAC is for a drunk college student)
llb, or it's a grand total of 7 college students that will have to be a bit more creative on how to sneak their booze in. Or, perhaps they just figure out that they can give their season ticket to someone else, and get in via another ticket. Again, a lot of police work for a very small sample of people. These are college kids, a very determined group when it comes to getting around authority.
posted by dviking at 06:19 PM on September 22, 2009
A guy called Patrick Day disapproves of excessive drinking and rowdy behaviour? For real? Did the journos at ESPN and the Onion swap jobs for a day?