Hey, there! Log in / Register
Sox bleacher fans won't have direct access to the watered-down booze team wants to sell
By adamg on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 10:50am
The Red Sox today submitted plans to the Boston Licensing Board to sell what it said would be diluted mixed drinks at five locations inside the ballpark. In an effort to placate city officials, the team said it would not sell mixed drinks in the bleachers - although officials agreed bleacher fans could easily walk to one of the five other stands where the team does want to sell the liquor.
After meeting with Boston Police, the team also agreed to cut off liquor sales after two hours or the seventh inning, whichever comes first. Currently, the team cuts off beer sales after 2 1/2 hours or the seventh inning.
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to let Fenway expand its mixed-drink service beyond the suite levels.
Sox attorney Dennis Quilty said the amount of alcohol in the drinks would be less than in the 12-oz. beers fans can now buy - one ounce of rum mixed with 10 ounces of soda and ice, for example.
Board member Michael Connolly said he was happy to hear the Sox had reconsidered its original plan to sell mixed drinks in the bleachers. "The bleachers are always a potential time bomb," he said. "As long as it's not out on the bleachers, I'm OK with this proposition."
He referred to "the Sheffield incident," in which the then Yankees outfielder got into a scuffle with a fan in 2005 and had a beer thrown at him. Boston Police Supt. William Evans was also happy to see bleacher sales excised from the plan. "Traditionally, that has been our hot spot (for trouble)," Evans said.
The mayor's office and City Councilor Michael Ross's office also supported the new plan.
Dorchester district Councilor Maureen Feeney also spoke in favor. "I really feel this is such an important issue for all of us to focus on. Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox really have just transformed this city in so many ways under the new leadership."
Feeney said she believed the Sox want to offer mixed drinks just to offer fans an additional amenity as they watch baseball, not to help them get sloshed. "I don't think there's any institution that we do not hold more dear than the Red Sox and Fenway Park."
No one spoke against the proposal.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
more importantly....
when will they shut off booze to Carl Crawford?
This just shows how oblivious
This just shows how oblivious people are. The Sheffield "incident" didn't happen in the bleachers, it happened in right field. Don't use what happened there to excuse not wanting drinks in the bleachers.
And while things can still get rowdy out there, anyone who has gone to Fenway over the last few years can attest that you see more and more families in the bleachers because they are the least expensive tickets. The bleachers aren't what they were in the 1970s.
Alcohol is easy to get in Fenway. Trying to hide it from the unwashed in center field is just ridiculous.
Reeks of classism
and belongs in the same place as signs that say "no Irish." If mixed drinks are good for those who can afford the high priced seats, they should be good for all.
What I'd like to see
More beer vendors that sell Sam Adams. I think there's only one in the whole park? Nothing against Bud Light, but if I wanted water I'd just buy a bottle for $4.75 or whatever and save a couple bucks.
Typically uninformed...
The "Sheffield Incident" was in the right field Box seats, not in the bleachers.
But let's continue to be elitist and think that only poor people (is anyone poor who goes to a Red Sox game?) can't handle alcohol, but the rich corporate people can.
several vendors sell Sam Adams
There's one on Yawkey Way, one near the LF grandstands, one right near the entrance to Gate A, that's just off the top of my head.
I agree with your overall point; they should sell more decent beer and less swill.
And I gotta laugh at the idea that the bleacher fans shouldn't have easy access to strawberry daiquiris, yet they can easily down a dozen Budweisers with equal alcohol content. I'm not one to rip the local government, but this is nanny state idiocy at its finest.
No kidding. I'm not much of a
No kidding. I'm not much of a Sam drinker but the Bud Light takeover of most sporting events is a real travesty. I swear I'd rather drink Natty Ice than Bud Light. I always get the Bud Heavy instead. Bleh.
Board member Michael Connolly
I think the price alone (not to mention that it will be intentionally weaker than a beer) will dissuade most people from buying them.
Plus, if I want a mixed drink at Fenway, I'll do what I've always done - bring in a flask and mix it with coke in those giant souvenir cups.
Diluted booze is illegal. Are they just going to pour less?
Diluting booze or possession of diluted booze is highly illegal, unless they are just going to give less than the standard 2 oz. in each cocktail, which kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
MGLC 138 Section 16. Any person holding a license under section twelve, thirteen, fourteen or fifteen who, directly or through any agent, employee or other person, dilutes or changes or in any manner tampers with any alcoholic beverage authorized to be sold under such license so as to change its composition or alcoholic content shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars, and if any holder of such a license is convicted of a violation of the foregoing, his license shall forthwith be suspended, for a period of not less than six months, by the local licensing authorities which issued the same; provided, that cocktails and other mixed drinks may be prepared on premises licensed under section twelve, thirteen or fourteen.
Possession on the licensed premises by any licensee referred to in this section of any alcoholic beverage differing in composition or alcoholic content from such beverage when received from the manufacturer or wholesaler and importer from whom it was purchased, except cocktails and other mixed drinks as hereinbefore authorized, shall be prima facie evidence that the said beverage has been diluted, changed or tampered with in violation of this section.
Mixed drinks are diluted by
Mixed drinks are diluted by definition.
uhhhh....
All they have to do is BUY the watered-down alcohol - the law keeps them from buying it, and then watering it down. Proof, have you heard of it?
There are a billion tricks bartenders have to watering down drinks even if patrons are standing in front of them, like pour spouts that pour at slower rates. Bartenders don't use measuring glasses - too slow, and generates too much stuff to wash. They just do it by pour time or eyeball it.
If you think the licensing board is going to run a 'sting' on anything having to do with the Red Sox, you're really naive...and even if they did, all they'd have to do is slap someone's hand and say "gosh, bob here ordered different pour spouts, we're so sorry." If they even feel the need to comment...
The never ending sales by
The never ending sales by scalpers in broad daylight directly in front of police details adds additional credibility to your statements. Unless it's a direct threat to public health or safety the city isn't going to touch the RedSox.
No, not diluted like that
They will pour an ounce of rum in a cup. Then they'll pour in 10 ounces of Coke and ice. Sort of how they do it now at the Garden, only they' ll be pouring from a large bottle, rather than using nips.
Questions
So are they changing the rule on beer sales as well? Honestly, I'm concerned.
"After meeting with Boston Police, the team also agreed to cut off liquor sales after two hours or the seventh inning, whichever comes first. Currently, the team cuts off beer sales after 2 1/2 hours or the seventh inning."
Michael Connolly refers to "the Sheffield incident,".
Didn't this occur in the Right Field Box and wasn't the jerk involved (the one that didn't play for the yankees) a fairly well to-do non-bleacher, white collar type?
That said, I recognize that the bleachers are a zoo.
Board chairwoman raised that question, too
And the answer was they're going to try two cutoff times, one for beer, one for mixed drinks.
I'm trying to imagine
watered-down Cosmos for $20 a pop in a plastic cup. Ugh.
The last time I sat in the
The last time I sat in the bleachers was in the mid-70s. It was a second half of a day-night Saturday, and it was still sweltering hot at 11:00PM. The entire right field bleachers was stinko, and thank God we were sitting in the top rows, because it was Hell Night and we were able to watch without getting involved. There was a fight way down in front of us, and a guy was carried out. The next day, we learned that the guy had his throat slashed with a razor.
There was nothing unusual about that night - it was just a day at the park. Things are much more mellow now.
I've Got An Idea
Can't we just ban those dirty poor people all together?! Smithers, fetch me my banning stick!
Funny you should mention that
One of the reasons the Sox cited for the bleachers getting less rowdy and more family friendly is because of economics - basically, families are being priced out of the rest of the park and the bleachers are all they can afford now (no, they didn't put it in those exact workds, but "economics" was mentioned).
Fools
We are all being taken as fools. Fenway asks to sell hard liquor in the whole park when in reality, once they get the courtesy uproar from the City, they "settle" for only certain areas of the park.
Just like every food serving establishment, they start with food, then graduate to a beer/wine license.
The same goes for serving food in funeral parlors. You will be able to get a beer and a ball at the next wake you attend.
Oh, man.
Geez, the ability to be an adult and have a drink when you please? The horror... THE HORROR.
Um. Duh? Isn't that what
Um. Duh? Isn't that what you're supposed to do at a wake? The drinking part anyhow.
Maybe you can have the balls, anonymous fuckhead.
Unrelated shameless . . .
. . . family plug.
My brother's sports betting blog- "Ross vs. the Loss". Ross isn't his name- college nickname- long story. Has a devoted Saint Mike's and Holy Cross following- and some BC.
http://www.rossvstheloss.com/