You can spot a few around any Carolina game: the slurred speech, poor reflexes, stumbling around the student risers — but enough about the players. (Rim shot.)
This week, I’d like to talk about drinking at campus sports — more specifically, how much it totally sucks that those of us of age can’t do it.
I asked staff who have been around campus for years why that is and, without fail, most responded with the kind of glossy stare that usually precedes blowing into a breathalyzer.
Sure, unwise alcohol use “undermines the intellectual climate of the University,” according to UNC policy. But why should faculty have a monopoly on doing that?
It turns out state law also limits the sale of alcohol at public university events.
Here, only the Blue Zone in Kenan Stadium can do it, according to senior associate athletic director Rick Steinbacher. A special permit is given to it because of its small size, exclusivity and the fact money from sales goes toward facilities and scholarships.
But if the goal is charity, why would we want a cap put on it? Would you tell Girl Scouts they can only sell those nasty shortbread cookies?
“You could change the law,” he said. “But that’s hard to do.”
Well, you know what they say, nothing hard is ever worth doing. And vendors at the Smith Center weren’t any more excited about it than Steinbacher.
