Dispatch article on gameday drinking

[BuckeyeDave]

I have no problem with tailgating. What I do like about going to an Ohio State sporting event (Football, Basketball, et. al) is the fact that alcohol is not sold at the game. Yes, some do sneak it in, but not in large enough quantities to make a difference. By the time half-time arrives the drunks are either starting to sober up a bit or passed out, so it doesn't bother me. I can say that alcohol sales at pro games are the biggest problem I have when I go. You get drunks coming in and then adding to it and I can't stand dealing with a drunken fool. The good thing is, in my job at PBS, I can do something about it and I do so with great pleasure! I hate dealing with them, but I love what I get to do to them. I'll say this, if you have to have alcohol to enjoy yourself at a sporting event, you have bigger issues that you need to deal with!

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Those last two charts can be taken different ways:

• OSU cracks down on tail-gate drinking and therefore has fewer behavior problems

OR​

​

• OSU doesn't have that many behavior problems, so their gestapo tactics at tailgates are way out of line.

Discuss

I would argue a middle postion. OSU and Columbus police waste their policing resources on harassing private tailgaters for having a beverage, while ignoring any harassing behavior where alcohol is not visible.

 

[elliemae]

God I hope so. This is an embarassment. Are we going to church or a fucking football game?

For me its both, but that's beside the point.

Perfectly said!

 

[martinss01]

for me, going to a football game IS church.

bingo! i tell my gf that all the time hehe. you have your religion, i have mine. :p

 

[BigTenFan]

Here at Illinois you can remain drinking while the game is going out in the tailgate lots (with our team that helps a lot). Is it the same at OSU? At Penn State, I think you can get a citation for drinking in the tailgate lots while the game is in progress.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

in columbus it is illegal to have an open container in a public place (street, sidewalk etc) the way the law is being interepreted is cmapus as a public place. drinking in a lot will get you a ticket, or a possibility of one.

 

[BigTenFan]

I believe it is the same here in Champaign it is just not enforced. If I was walking on the sidewalk infront of the stadium drinking a beer the cop wouldn't say a word. If I was walking on the sidewalk downtown infront of a store I would be busted. Heck, it used to be that you could leave the stadium at half time go out and drink, then go back in with no problem. Then 9/11 happened at it ended that.

 

[redskinbucksfan]

If people want to drink tea, complain about people standing up, and sit on their hands........they should stay home.

Wrong. They should go to Notre Dame.