Bipartisan bills would allow alcohol sales at college sporting events in Michigan

LANSING — New bipartisan payments within the Michigan Legislature would enable alcohol gross sales at school basketball, soccer and hockey video games.

U-M and MSU are outliers within the Huge Ten in not allowing alcohol gross sales at school sporting occasions, based on a Thursday information launch from lawmakers. Eight of 14 Huge Ten colleges enable such gross sales, the discharge stated.

“It is a equity and freedom difficulty that can enable for a contemporary, extra satisfying faculty game-day expertise — nevertheless it’s additionally a public well being and security difficulty,” stated state Rep. Graham Filler, R-Greenbush Township.

“Information from universities in different states clearly reveals that the variety of alcohol-related incidents inside stadiums declines when alcohol gross sales are allowed. As a substitute of binge consuming within the car parking zone or sneaking alcohol into the stadium, followers can merely buy a beer within the concourse.”

State Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, stated the laws, additionally sponsored by Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, is a matter of equity.

“Alcohol is served at MSU soccer video games now, however provided that you’re fortunate sufficient to look at the sport in a set,” Hertel stated.

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“Beer on the recreation must be allowed for extra than simply wealthy donors.”

Home Invoice 6289 and Senate Invoice 1125 would enable the Michigan Liquor Management Fee to difficulty licenses for use for occasions inside the public areas of college soccer, basketball, and hockey stadiums. Gross sales could be permitted two hours earlier than and after every recreation.

The payments have been referred to the Home and Senate Regulatory Reform committees.

Universities have been in a position to get hold of liquor licenses for sporting occasions previously, however just for particular occasions. For instance, U-M offered alcohol at a global soccer match at Michigan Stadium in 2014 and at an outside hockey recreation between the Detroit Pink Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Observe him on Twitter @paulegan4.  Learn extra on Michigan politics and join our elections e-newsletter. 

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