In an effort to reduce levels of drinking-related issues at home football games, the University of Minnesota has adopted a home game breathalyzer system modeled after the University of Wisconsin’s program.
The program, called “Check BAC,” prevents the noticeable consequences of excessive drinking at home football games and subjects ejected students to a breathalyzer test if they want to return to home games. Students under 21 who enter into the program must blow a 0.00 Blood Alcohol Content level. Students 21 and above must blow under 0.8, Minnesota’s BAC limit for drunken driving.
Minnesota students’ behavior at home football games are outlined in their code of conduct, called “Golden Gophers make Golden Choices,” which states that “fans appearing intoxicated will be denied entry or will be subject to ejection from all Gopher sports events.” However, the new policy will allow students ejected at previous games to return if they demonstrate the appropriate BAC levels.
“If a student gets a violation or gets sent to detox [at a home game, then] they are in violation of the student conduct code,” Amy Barsness, assistant director of the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity said.
Paul Strain, president of the Minnesota Student Association of the Undergraduate Student Body Government and season ticket holder, explains the program is intended for students intoxicated beyond secure levels.
“[The program is] not just people who are intoxicated,” Strain said. “It’s people who are drunk beyond physical, normal abilities at the game, like passing out, puking or sleeping from being inebriated.”
Strain also works closely with the head office of Student Affairs, where the regulations are administered.
“People have been apologetic about their behavior and are proud to come to the next game with [blowing a] 0 if they’re under 21,” Strain said.
The push for adopting a stricter drinking policy at home football games was intended for the opening of the new TCF Bank stadium at the start of the 2009 season, according to Barsness. She also noted that the student section capacity is 10,000 seats, with a stadium total of over 50,000 seats. To date, 43 students at Minnesota have been entered in Check BAC.
John Lucas, UW spokesperson, said Assistant Dean of Students Ervin Cox worked closely with Minnesota officials for creating a program.
“Coming to the game is a privilege for the students who win the lottery tickets,” Lucas said. “If you forfeit the privilege by being ejected from the stadium, there should be an extra step for an opportunity to prove yourself on game day.”
Camp Randall Stadium initiated the “Show and Blow” program in 2007, wherein university officials had noticed “a lot of aggressive and drunken behavior in and out of the stadium that were preventing people who were sober to have good experiences,” according to Lucas.
The “Roll out the Red Carpet” initiative at Camp Randall, which began in 2004, was designed to make the game experience enjoyable by all.
