IA: Debate brews over Iowa college football beer sales
The Des Moines Register
By William Petroski
July 20, 2016
A debate is brewing over expanding beer sales at Iowa college football games.
A key state lawmaker is proposing a legislative review, while Gov. Terry Branstad and some other policy makers want to let state university officials and the Iowa Board of Regents control the bar taps.
Most areas inside Iowa’s university football stadiums are now officially alcohol-free zones, and many politicians and educators are reluctant to start urging young and old fans to hoist foamy, ice-cold beers in college sports venues. But they also face a reality of ever-rising athletic department budgets that constantly demand more money.
State Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, D-Arlington, who chairs the Senate’s higher education budget subcommittee, told The Des Moines Register the Legislature should “absolutely” study the issue before any decisions are made whether to expand beer sales at Iowa’s three state universities’ sporting events.
“I am thinking that this might be an interesting revenue source, but until we have a chance as a Legislature to sit down and really have a discussion on the pros and cons of this, I would err on the side of caution,” Shoenjahn said. “The university games are there for the students, and if the students are under 21 it just leaves more opportunities for problems. We also have people driving to these events.”
State Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, wants to leave the decision making to university administrators and the regents. But she is against the idea of expanding beer sales at Iowa college sporting events. Mascher said anyone who walks outside Kinnick Stadium on an Iowa Hawkeye football game day can see plenty of beer is being consumed even before fans start watching the game.
“We already have a problem with a number of students coming to games drunk, causing problems and getting arrested, and we don’t need more of that,” Mascher added. “We are trying to do a better job teaching students how to be responsible, to stop the binge drinking and to explain the issues that revolve around that like campus assaults.”
University of Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley has signaled he would support beer sales at the UNI-Dome to generate additional revenue for sports programs, saying “You have to pay the bills.” But UNI Athletic Director David Harris said he is not looking at “widespread beer sales” at this “particular time.” Iowa and Iowa State already offer alcoholic beverages in suites or premium seating areas — similar to Northern Iowa — and neither plans any changes.
The University of Texas added alcoholic beverages to its concessions last year, and Ohio State University announced in June it will make beer available stadium-wide this football season. The latest data from IMG, a sports marketing and licensing firm, shows at least 35 schools nationwide now sell alcohol to fans and pressure is growing to permit stadium-wide beer sales as many fans sit at home with six-packs and watch games on big-screen televisions.