# Beer sales at college bowl games **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383 "2007-01-10T05:58:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383/1 "2007-01-10T05:58:03Z")
Do they sell beer at BCS games? Especially was wondering about Florida/OSU. TIA ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383/2 "2007-01-10T06:01:22Z")
I’ve been to the Sugar Bowl twice; both times beer (and mixed drinks) were served. I’ve been to the Orange Bowl once; no beer. So it definitely depends. I don’t know about Florida/OSU. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383/3 "2007-01-10T06:07:53Z")
[QUOTE=Cabbage] I’ve been to the Sugar Bowl twice; both times beer (and mixed drinks) were served. I’ve been to the Orange Bowl once; no beer. So it definitely depends. I don’t know about Florida/OSU. [/QUOTE] Thanks. I understand some games are held in venues not on a campus( Sugar Bowl in the Superdome for ex) and some are. Maybe that has something to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383/4 "2007-01-10T06:20:04Z")
[QUOTE=Klaatu] Thanks. I understand some games are held in venues not on a campus( Sugar Bowl in the Superdome for ex) and some are. Maybe that has something to do with it? [/QUOTE] Actually, that’s not it specifically. When I went to the Orange Bowl, it wasn’t held at the “Orange Bowl” at the University of Miami. It was held at Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin Stadium. They didn’t serve alcohol despite it being off campus. At the Orange Bowl, the first thing I did on entering the stadium was try to get a beer. The lady at the concession stand told me the “Orange Bowl comittee” (or equivalent) had decided not to serve alcohol at the game. ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383/5 "2007-01-10T07:08:00Z")
[QUOTE=Klaatu] Thanks. I understand some games are held in venues not on a campus( Sugar Bowl in the Superdome for ex) and some are. Maybe that has something to do with it? [/QUOTE] I don’t think being on a “campus” necessarily has anything to do with it. A private university, I think, can probably choose to offer alcohol at its own discretion. The University of Tulsa recently considered offering beer at football games (after about a 10 or 15 year hiatus, I know for a fact that they used to sell beer at the concession stand) only to reconsider, reportedly due to pressure from notable alumni or boosters. They have been selling beer on their own campus inside of the shadow of their stadium for the past couple seasons though, right before the game and during halftime. I don’t think it’s necessarily a private/public distinction either: I may be mistaken, but I believe the California State University system allowed beer to be sold at football games until very recently, because I’m pretty sure Fresno State used to sell beer at games up until this or possibly last season. I think that ultimately it’s up to the state or private organization in charge to decide if alcohol is to be served at football games or other events. It is entirely within the power of the state regents (or whatever) to allow it, and private universities are certainly masters of their own domain. Conversely, the participants of a bowl game could probably make some arrangements regarding whether or not alcohol is to be served. Maybe some bowls decide to not sell alcohol for whatever reason they deem fit. I’m not aware of that happening though because I’ve been able to buy beer at every bowl game I’ve been to, which is admittedly not all that many. I could be wrong though, if anyone has any official NCAA citations that do not allow beer to be served at any college sporting events, I’d be interested in reading them. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-sales-at-college-bowl-games/387383/6 "2007-01-10T13:57:29Z")
No current data, but 20-some years back my dad and I got hammered on the HUGE beers they were selling at the Rose Bowl as UCLA destroyed Illinois.