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The Southeast Conference announced Friday that it would review its existing limitations on the availability of alcoholic beverages at sporting events, giving Alabama and other member institutions the autonomy it needs to determine its own beer and wine policy in football, basketball, baseball and softball games, as well as other sports.
However, an official statement from the AU Friday afternoon said that the university saw no change in its current policy at the moment.
"This new policy allows each campus to decide what is right for them," said the AU statement. "These guidelines will be useful for the future and for future conversations. We have one of the best gaming environments in the country and we do not plan to make any changes at this time. "
The SEC's Alcohol Availability Policy, which was approved at the 2019 Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida, requires any SEC institution to authorize the sale of alcohol at events. to establish policies governing the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages that meet the requirements. established and accepted by the members of the Conference. In the past, it was forbidden for the SEC's athletics programs to sell alcohol in the public spaces of the SEC's athletics sites.
Alabama has not announced its official policy yet, but should do so before the regulatory change comes into effect Aug. 1.
The revised policy should not be interpreted as a requirement or expectation by SEC institutions to sell alcohol during sporting events. Each institution has the autonomy to decide on the licitness of alcohol sales to the general public and to designate locations where alcoholic beverages may be available, in accordance with the Conference's alcohol management each university, as well as local or national regulations governing the sale of alcohol. / or consumption.
The revised policy adopted by the Presidents and Chancellors requires the institutions to implement a series of Conference-wide alcohol management procedures, including the establishment of fixed points of sale, a restriction prohibiting the sale by sellers in the seats, a limit to the number of alcoholic beverages. purchased by transaction and at specified times that the sale must cease specific to each track and field event.
"We are proud of the great play day atmospheres that the SEC and our member schools have cultivated throughout our history, and no other conference rivals this one with respect to our ability to provide all our fans with an atmosphere intense and friendly, "said Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, current president of SEC presidents and chancellors. "This policy aims to improve the game day experience at SEC sporting events by providing our schools with the autonomy to make appropriate decisions for their respective campuses, while creating expectations for responsible management of the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages. "
The adoption of the revised policy follows a recommendation from a task force of campus leaders created at the SEC Spring Meetings in May 2018. The group was tasked to review the existing policy. in the management of conference games governing the availability of alcoholic beverages at SEC sporting events; and defining an orientation to be considered by members.
"Our alcohol sales policy has been a source of in-depth discussion and respectful debate among our member universities in recent years," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "As a conference, we looked at trends in the sale and consumption of alcohol at college sporting events and drew on the experiences and insights of our member schools that responsibly established limited sales of alcohol in controlled spaces and high quality seats. We remain the only conference to set league standards for responsible management of the sale of alcoholic beverages. "
Any sale of alcoholic beverages in public salons will be limited to beer and wine, and every institution that chooses to sell alcohol will be required to set up a server training program for staff.
"As a conference, we are committed to ensuring that all policy changes are implemented in a manner that respects and upholds traditions that make the experience of the SEC's play day exceptional for all participants, "said Sankey.
The policy, which came into effect on August 1, 2019, does not apply to private suites, clubs or leased areas in which the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages was previously permitted under current SEC regulations.
Members of the SEC working group included Stuart Bell, president of the University of Alabama, Michael Sagas, representative of the faculty of sports at the University of Florida; Hunter Yurachek, director of sports at the University of Arkansas; Sarah Reesman, Senior Assistant Director, Athletics, University of Missouri; and Troy Lane, police chief of the University of Tennessee.
SEC Policy on Alcohol Gambling Management (adopted May 31, 2019, effective August 1, 2019):
Each establishment is authorized to determine if it is permitted to sell alcoholic beverages at the athletics sites and must establish a policy governing the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages at its athletic facilities.
Institutions offering liquor sales in public places must incorporate the expectations of alcohol management throughout the Conference, including:
Alcoholic beverages must be sold and distributed only in designated fixed locations;
Alcoholic beverages can not be sold by vendors in seating areas;
Identity verification is required at each point of sale to prevent sale to minors;
Sales of alcoholic beverages are limited to beer and wine (no alcoholic beverages or blends can be sold in public rest areas);
Limits must be established on the number of beverages purchased at the same time by an individual;
Alcohol should be distributed in cups;
Secure server training and additional staff training to handle high-risk situations are needed; and
Stoppages designated for the sale and / or distribution of alcohol must be applied as follows:
o football (end of the 3rd quarter);
o Basketball (Men's Noon Cup – 12 minutes of the second half of television, women – end of 3rd quarter);
o Baseball (end of the top of the 7th inning);
o Softball (end of the top of the 5th round); and
o Other sports (at a specified time, at the latest when 75% of the official event length competition must be completed).
Each year, conference members will review this policy to determine the institution's compliance with established expectations and will assess supporter behavior and alcohol-related incidents to determine whether there is a need to revise the policy. alcohol issue of the conference.
The implementation of these management expectations does not include private suites, clubs or leased areas.
Each institution establishes a policy for the admission of food and beverages from outside to its facilities.
As with all areas of the stadium, it is of utmost importance to maintain the safety of guests and participants and to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere.
Advertising displays mentioning or promoting alcoholic beverages are not allowed in gaming facilities, with the exception of point-of-sale signage.
Reaching Cecil Hurt at [email protected] or 205-722-0225.
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