At the national championship game in Tempe, Ariz., Fiesta Bowl vendors inside the stadium sold alcoholic beverages to fans.
Earlier in the season, Paul Brown Stadium sold beer to fans during the Ohio State vs. Cincinnati football game.
“I don’t believe it will have any impact on our policy at Ohio State,” said Bill Hall, vice president of Student Affairs.
Official Ohio State policy prohibits liquor from being served during OSU sporting events at both the Schottenstein Center and Ohio Stadium.
In order to change the policy, approval from several departments in the administration would be required.
“The policy as it stands comes down to the Board of Trustees, the president and the athletic department,” said Kim Lossing, general manager for food service at Sodexho, the company that provides OSU concessions. “It would be a joint effort by all of the above.”
Any changes would need to be heavily researched and OSU would need to take an in-depth look at other universities to see what they experience when they serve inside, Hall said.
Sodexho does not serve alcohol at collegiate athletic events, even though they possess the licenses to do so.
“As far as the law is concerned they are allowed to serve anywhere except in the locker rooms,” said Matt Mullins, representative for the Department of Liquor Control.
Sodexho has licenses to serve everything from beer to 21-proof liquor in the Horseshoe and the Schottenstein Center.
“We do serve at concerts and special events at the stadiums,” Lossing said.
Sodexho also serves liquor in the luxury boxes in the Schottenstein Center.
Lossing said if there was liquor served in the stadiums, it would provide officials with some measure of control on drinking, which could help prevent some of the excesses associated with tailgating.
“If the alcohol is served inside, they can control it,” Lossing said.
Lossing said if people had the ability to buy drinks in the stadium, those who now get drunk before the game starts could pace themselves. If OSU policy were to be changed, there would be controls beyond those OSU would put in place.
“What we have in place now are undercover agents who patrol the area around the stadium as well as places that serve alcohol, like Cookers and the Varsity Club,” said Julie Ehrhart, representative for the Ohio Department of Public Safety. “If they served alcohol at OSU games, they would be patrolled in much the same way.”
Even with the controls that could be put in place, there are those who feel it would not be enough. The administrative crackdown on the riots following the Michigan game also diminishes the chances of anyone’s ability to make policy change.
“Drinking starts well before the game, and goes long after,” Hall said. “Personally, I would be opposed to it.”
