Bruins fans like their beer more than Celtics fans

Garden officials revealed that fact at a hearing before the Boston Licensing Board today.

"There's significantly more beer drinking at Bruins games than at Celtics games," one Garden official told the board.

Of course, the officials and their high-priced lawyer from Ropes & Gray did not make their way to the eighth floor of City Hall just to discuss relative beer consumption. They were there to answer a citation issued by Boston Police on April 4 of this year for a drunken 16-year-old holding a beer and creating a disturbance during a Celtics/Spurs game.

The lawyer led the officials, who included the Garden's general manager and director of security through an extremely detailed review of the measures the Garden takes to keep teenagers from getting their hands on beer and running amok. Workers receive general training on keeping beer away from people under 21 and specific training applicable for sports settings. The Garden handles matters differently depending on the type of event - which is where the comparison of Bruins and Celtics fans came in. There are lots of security officers roaming the stands. On the night in question, the Garden had 250 people on duty with their eye out for trouble in the stands. Boston Police had details, too.

On and on they went. Finally, Licensing Board Chairwoman Nicole Murati Ferrer managed to interrupt. Let's get down to the main issue, she said: What was a 16-year old doing intoxicated and holding a beer in the stands?

Oh, the lawyer replied: We have no idea. The teen was uncooperative with security personnel and wouldn't say where he got the beer or how he got drunk.

The board decides Thursday what action, if any, to take over the incident.