Alcohol buying at games needs tighter monitoring

Today, I read how another baseball fan has died from injuries he received while at a major league ballgame. No, this didn’t happen as a result of a slashing foul ball or even a bat that slipped out of a hitter’s hands. This happened due to the lack of responsibility shown by the vendors who sell alcohol. The story I am referring to is that of Mark Guilbeau, published on ESPN.com on May 22.

In summary, this story relates the tale of a 25-year-old Atlanta Braves fan who apparently fell from the club-level seats 150 feet down to the field-level stairwell while “sliding” down the handrails on the stairs, suffering fatal head injuries. It is believed that alcohol was a factor.

This story follows an earlier incident at Shea Stadium where another fan was killed when he fell approximately four stories from an escalator while attempting to “balance” on the handrail. Again, it is believed alcohol was a factor here as well.

What is the common denominator here? Obviously, it is alcohol and these are just two incidents that resulted in fatalities. What about all the other injuries, near “accidents” and fights that happen at sporting events due to the abuse of this substance. I think it is time that changes are made.

No, I am not saying that we should ban alcohol (although that would solve a lot of the problems), but just suggesting changes to try to reduce these events and tragedies. Let’s look at what happens now; warm-ups are occurring and fans are arriving. Before finding their seats they want to get something to drink. Therefore, they go and buy a couple of beers. As the seats fill in around them, they figure before the game gets going they’ll go and get an additional beer or two. They have this option all through the majority of the game. Many people can be completely intoxicated by the third inning. What if we limited alcohol sales to a single beer each purchase? What if we only sold on the odd innings until the seventh inning? No, neither of these steps will completely solve the problems, but will certainly make it more difficult for those who are not responsible enough to care for themselves or those around them.

I know that this will be cutting into the revenues received from the sale of alcohol, but what if we are able to save someone’s life by doing so? What if it improving the “fan experience” at the ballgame and allowing for a more “family-friendly” atmosphere thus increased ticket sales and increased direct revenue to the club? What a concept… Too bad no one will venture down this path.

Troy Heald

Washburn

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