College football game day stadium incidents: policy and environmental effects on alcohol-related ejections and crime

You Booze, You Lose? Spillovers to Crime from Alcohol Sales at College Football Games

“…Studying the impact of alcohol sales adoption, Barry et al (2019) find that criminal incidents increased for an FBS school (identity of school not disclosed) in the two years after alcohol sales were instituted, relative to the level of incidents in the three years preceding the policy change. Similarly, using an expanded sample of seven FBS schools, some of which sell alcohol on game days, Menaker and Chaney (2014) find some evidence that alcohol sales are positively correlated with alcohol-related arrests, although the strongest positive correlation is found for attendance and crime. 10 In a working paper, Blemings (2020) studies the impact of alcohol sales policy changes for eight FBS schools, with a total panel of 44 schools over the 2008 to 2015 period.…”

“…However, it is theoretically ambiguous whether game day alcohol sales contribute to increased alcohol consumption and intoxication. Until very recently, little was known empirically about the crime-related consequences of stadium alcohol policies, apart from a handful of case studies (Barry et al, 2019; Bormann & Stone, 2001; Boyes & Faith, 1993; Menaker & Chaney, 2014). In a working paper, Blemings (2020) finds that the introduction of alcohol sales at FBS college football games is associated with reductions in crime for 21-to-23 year-olds (compared to 18-to-20 year-olds) on home game days.…”

Stadium Alcohol Management: A Best Practices Approach

“…This included arrests for possession of alcohol by a minor, driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), open alcohol container violations, possession of alcohol at the stadium, non-violent resisting of arrest, and battery. Menaker and Chaney (2014) sought to evaluate not simply the drinking behavior of fans at college football games, but also to measure the impact of different policies and environmental characteristics on that International Journal of Sport Management, Recreation & Tourism 52 behavior. The sample included seven stadiums located in the same state.…”

“…Alcohol-related ejections were influenced by the law enforcement policy on reporting ejections, temperature, attendance, and conference and rivalry games. According to Menaker and Chaney (2014) more of an effort should be made to educate and inform patrons of the alcohol policies, as well as scheduling earlier game times. In the event of later game times, tailgating restrictions were stressed as a method to reduce alcohol abuse before the game.…”

“…Previous studies have also identified an increase in violence and criminal activity relating to alcohol consumption at sporting events (Erickson, Toomey, Lenk, et al, 2011;Lenk, Toomey, & Erickson, 2009;Menaker and Chaney, 2014;Merlo, Hong, & Cotter, 2010). According to Lenk, Toomey, and Erickson (2009), tailgating and serving practices at sporting events may be contributing to a significant number of attendees having elevated Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels; this ultimately contributes to problems during and following sporting events.…”