ATHENS — Georgia football fans will be able to purchase alcohol at the Bulldogs season-opening game at Vanderbilt Stadium, per a report in The Tennessean.
The Nashville school announced it will make domestic and imported beers available for purchase throughout the stadium starting with the Aug. 31 game against No. 3-ranked Georgia.
The SEC Presidents voted at the league meetings to allow schools to set their own alcohol policies, provided they stay within certain parameters.
Previously there was a league-wide policy, and alcohol sales were only allowed in premium areas at all SEC stadiums.
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Five SEC schools have announced they will sell alcohol in common area seating this season: LSU, Missouri, Texas A&M, Arkansas and now Vanderbilt.
Tennessee is in the process of developing a policy that would enable alcohol to be available during home games at Neyland Stadium this season, per reports.
Georgia, Alabama and Auburn are among the schools that have announced that they will not sell alcohol in the common areas of its home games.
“I think we’ve got it right at UGA,” Georgia President Jere Morehead said.
According to a Vanderbilt press release obtained by The Tennessean newspaper, AD Malcolm Turner is quoted as saying the sales of alcohol will “enhance our fan experience” and help fund facility improvements.
Commodores coach Derek Mason said at SEC Media Days that Vanderbilt has a marketing plan to maintain a home field advantage against the Bulldogs.
“I know what that Georgia bunch travels like, but this ball game is going to have a pretty well attended crowd by Vanderbilt University,” Mason said, bristling at the notion the Bulldogs fans could take over the stadium.
“Georgia is a big game, and I think we’re going to turn out in spades.”
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SEC alcohol sales expectations policy
The expectations of the new policy, which takes effect Aug. 1, were released by the league office at the SEC Spring Meetings on Friday:
- Alcoholic beverages are to be sold and dispensed only at designated stationary locations;
- Alcoholic beverages may not be sold by vendors within the seating areas;
- Identification check is required at every point of sale to prevent sales to minors;
- Alcoholic beverage sales are limited to beer and wine only (no hard liquor or mixed drinks may be sold in public seating areas);
- Limits must be established on the number of drinks purchased at one time by an individual;
- Alcohol must be dispensed into cups;
- Safe server training and additional training for staff to handle high risk situations is required; and
- Designated stop times for sale and/or distribution of alcohol must be enforced as follows:
• Football (end of 3rd quarter);
• Basketball (Men’s—Second half 12-minute TV timeout; Women’s—End of 3rd quarter);
• Softball (end of the top of the 5th inning); and
• Other Sports (At a designated time, no later than when 75% of the event’s regulation length competition is scheduled to be completed).
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