Lsu Stadium Beer Rules: What Fans Need To Know

LSU's Tiger Stadium started selling beer and wine in 2019, and the change in alcohol policy has proven to be a financial success for the university. LSU athletics made over $2 million in net revenue from the sale of more than 280,000 alcoholic beverages in the public areas of the stadium during the 2019 football season. This figure does not even include alcohol sales in premium areas.

Beer and wine are sold at LSU's Tiger Stadium

LSU's alcohol policy includes guidelines to ensure responsible drinking and maintain a safe environment. For example, alcohol will not be served to visibly intoxicated fans, and stadium personnel and law enforcement monitor fan behaviour. Unruly or disruptive behaviour, public intoxication, and providing alcohol to minors are grounds for ejection or arrest.

The school also introduced the "Safe Driver Tiger" program, which encourages fans to pledge to be designated drivers for their groups. Participants in this program receive a voucher for a free water or soft drink and a stamp on their hand identifying them as designated drivers.

LSU's decision to sell alcohol in Tiger Stadium was part of a broader trend in college football. In recent years, the NCAA and conferences have loosened rules around alcohol sales, and many schools have started allowing alcohol sales at their stadiums. This change has been driven by a desire to improve the fan experience and increase revenue.

LSU's alcohol policy is similar to those implemented by other schools that allow alcohol sales at college football games. For example, Texas A&M, another SEC school, also sells alcohol throughout its stadium and generated $1.3 million in revenue during its first season of alcohol sales.

Alcohol sales are restricted to the first three-quarters of football games

LSU fans have been able to purchase beer and wine in the public seating areas of Tiger Stadium since 2019. This was the result of the SEC lifting its ban on alcohol sales at its sports venues, allowing each school to decide independently if alcohol sales would be permitted at their stadiums.

LSU's alcohol policy states that alcoholic beverages must be dispensed into cups and that a valid ID must be presented for purchase. Fans are limited to two drinks per transaction, and alcohol sales are restricted to the first three-quarters of football games. These restrictions are in line with the guidelines adopted by the SEC for alcohol sales, which include limiting the number of drinks purchased at one time and requiring ID checks to prevent sales to minors.

The decision to allow alcohol sales was made to enhance the fan experience and respond to feedback from LSU fans, with the school's athletic director, Scott Woodward, emphasising the need for responsible drinking and thorough planning. The policy has proven to be a success, with LSU athletics bringing in $2.25 million in net revenue from the sale of more than 280,000 alcoholic beverages in the public areas of Tiger Stadium during the 2019 season.

The alcohol policy at LSU's Tiger Stadium is part of a broader trend of college football stadiums loosening restrictions on alcohol sales. In recent years, there has been a boom in alcohol sales at college football games, with more schools opting to allow alcohol sales to the general public, not just in premium seating areas. This shift has resulted in increased revenue for schools and improved fan experiences, with LSU's policy serving as a notable example of this trend.

LSU's alcohol policy change led to $2 million in drink sales

LSU's Tiger Stadium witnessed a significant shift in its alcohol policy, marking the 2019 football season as a debut for drink sales. This move resulted in substantial revenue, with sales of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages contributing to a thriving concession business.

The decision to start selling alcohol during games was a joint effort between LSU and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Prior to the 2019 season, the SEC had a ban on alcohol sales at its sports venues, but the conference decided to lift this prohibition, allowing each school to make its own decision. LSU seized this opportunity and announced that beer and wine would be available for purchase in the public seating areas of Tiger Stadium.

The impact of this policy change was immediate and significant. During the 2019 football season, LSU generated over $2 million in net revenue from drink sales. This remarkable figure was achieved through the sale of almost 300,000 alcoholic beverages in the public areas of the stadium, excluding sales in premium areas. Michelob Ultra was the top-selling beer, with 128,627 units sold, while Pinot Grigio was the most popular wine, selling 3,700 units.

The success of LSU's alcohol sales reflects a broader trend in college football. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of schools allowing alcohol sales at their stadiums. The 2019 season stood out as a pivotal moment, witnessing 56 FBS schools introducing alcohol sales across their stadiums, marking a significant shift in the game-day experience for fans.

The economic benefits of this policy change are evident when comparing LSU's alcohol sales to those of other colleges. Indiana University, for instance, generated only $470,000 in revenue during its debut year of stadium alcohol sales. However, it is worth noting that Indiana's stadium capacity is significantly lower than that of LSU, accommodating just under 53,000 fans compared to LSU's capacity of over 92,000.

LSU's experience highlights the financial opportunities presented by alcohol sales during sporting events. The substantial revenue generated through drink sales showcases how this policy change has the potential to significantly impact the overall economics of college sports and the game-day experience.

Alcohol must be dispensed into cups

LSU fans have been able to buy beer and wine at Tiger Stadium since 2019. This was the result of the SEC lifting its ban on alcohol sales at its sports venues, allowing each school to decide independently if alcohol sales would be permitted at their stadiums.

LSU's alcohol policy includes the following guidelines:

All beer and wine must be dispensed into cups by the concessionaire, Aramark. This is in line with the SEC's policy, which requires beverages to be served in a cup.

Other guidelines

• A valid ID must be presented for purchase.
• Fans are limited to two drinks per transaction.
• Alcoholic beverages are only sold at designated stationary locations and may not be sold by vendors within the seating areas.
• Identification checks are required at every point of sale to prevent sales to minors.
• Alcohol sales are limited to beer and wine only, with no hard liquor or mixed drinks sold in public seating areas.
• Alcohol sales must end at designated times: at the end of the third quarter for football games, during the top of the seventh inning for baseball games, and during the 12-minute commercial break in the second half for men's basketball games and at the end of the third quarter for women's basketball games.
• Stadium personnel and law enforcement monitor fan behaviour, and unruly, disruptive, or illegal behaviour can result in ejection without a refund, arrest, or refusal of alcohol.

LSU's alcohol rules include a Safe Driver Tiger program

LSU has strict rules in place regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol at Tiger Stadium. In 2019, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) lifted its ban on alcohol sales at sports venues, including Tiger Stadium. In response, LSU introduced its Alcoholic Beverage Policy, which includes a Safe Driver Tiger program.

The Safe Driver Tiger program is a designated driver initiative. Fans can register as designated drivers for their group at kiosks in the stadium. They will receive a unique hand stamp and a concessions voucher for participating in the program. This program promotes responsible drinking and ensures a safe environment for all fans.

In addition to the Safe Driver Tiger program, LSU's Alcoholic Beverage Policy includes several other measures to regulate alcohol sales and consumption. Alcoholic beverages are limited to beer and wine, and they must be dispensed into cups from designated stationary locations. No more than two alcoholic drinks may be purchased per transaction, and a valid ID is required for each purchase to ensure no sales to minors. Alcohol sales are also cut off at designated times: at the end of the third quarter for football games, during the top of the seventh inning for baseball games, and during the second-half commercial break for men's basketball games and at the end of the third quarter for women's basketball games.

LSU staff and vendors are trained to adhere to institutional and conference policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations. They are instructed to identify public intoxication and refuse service to any fan who appears impaired or intoxicated. Stadium personnel and law enforcement closely monitor fan behaviour, and unruly, disruptive, or illegal behaviour can result in ejection without a refund, arrest, or refusal of alcohol sales or consumption.

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