The slur of their words, the imbalance in their step, the canteens hidden under their coats – all tell-tale signs of football fans who try to sneak alcohol into Ohio Stadium at Buckeye home games.
But ticket-holders beware – University Police are no longer lenient with those who smuggle alcohol into the games. Fans will be immediately ejected from the game if they have any alcohol, said Capt. John Petry of the University Police.
“If you have alcohol after it was clearly stated not to, you will be thrown out,” Petry said.
Immediate ejection is a change from last year’s policy, which gave officers discretion in each case.
Many times, fans caught with alcohol were simply asked to pour it out. The change was instituted to send a clear message to fans that alcohol will not be tolerated in the stadium, Petry said.
But those who are kicked out of the game should count their blessings. Some fans are arrested after being found with alcohol, although it is less common.
“If someone is intoxicated and can’t take care of themselves, that’s called disorderly conduct, and they will be arrested,” Petry said. “But it only happens in situations that are out of the ordinary, like when people are having trouble standing or can’t give an officer coherent answers.”
More alcohol smugglers are being caught more this year because of heightened security at the stadium, Petry said.
Officers at stadium gates screen incoming fans for alcohol containers, and officers inside the stadium keep watch for suspicious activity.
Those caught with alcohol at a stadium gate will have to dispose of it but will still be allowed to enter, Petry said.
Other university organizations are looking at this problem and considering new solutions.
A meeting of the Safety Committee for Student Affairs Nov. 13 discussed permanently revoking ticket privileges of any student caught with alcohol inside the Horseshoe, said Eddie Pauline, president of the Undergraduate Student Government.
“I think maybe that’s a bit drastic,” Pauline said.
“Most officials agree the majority of the problem does not fall on students’ shoulders. The rudest people I see in my section are not students, they are the older people and their friends,” Pauline said.
Bill Hall, vice president of student affairs, will head a new committee to address game-day problems. He does not put curbing student alcohol smugglers on top of the committee’s to-do list.
“For the most part, student behavior has been good this season,” Hall said. “Students show the spirit of the game.”
Petry agrees adults join students as problem causers.
“It’s not solely the students,” Petry said. “A fair number of people who are older than college age get caught. It’s across the spectrum,” Petry said.
Fans cannot complain they weren’t informed of Ohio Stadium rules.
“There has been a concerted effort by the athletic department to inform people of what they can and cannot do,” he said.
Stadium rules can be found on the back of each football ticket, on a flyer sent out with each ticket and on large signs found at every entrance.
“I think smuggling alcohol is stupid,” said Nick Gingo, a junior in materials science engineering. “The only people I see doing it are already drunk, so they don’t need any more anyway.”
“I wish we were allowed to have alcohol there, but I guess I understand why it’s a bad idea,” said Julie Clark, a junior in marketing.
Pauline agrees that although partying can be fun before the game, alcohol should be kept out of the stadium.
“Students should try to set a tone of maturity at the game,” Pauline said.
