Capitol View: June 24, 2009 Archive

GOP legislator wants U of M regents to rethink beer ban

Posted at 2:04 PM on June 24, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

Following today's 10-2 vote by University of Minnesota regents to ban alcohol in the new on-campus football stadium, a Republican legislator said he'll try to reverse the move next year. Here's the news release from Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington:

ST PAUL - In response to the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents decision to ban alcohol sales at its new on-campus football stadium, State Representative Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) will introduce legislation in 2010 that may encourage University officials to rethink their beer ban.

"Those of legal drinking age don't need the University to act as their parents," Garofalo said. "The University had no problem trusting the taxpayers to pay for a new stadium; they should be able to trust those same citizens to have a beer at a football game."

Garofalo's bill would create a new scholarship program for disabled veterans. Funding would come from one of two sources: Profits from alcohol sales at the new TCF Bank Stadium, or reductions in the University's administrative budget. Garofalo estimates that such sales would easily fund a scholarship account in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" annually.

Last session, the Legislature passed a law allowing alcohol to be sold to adults throughout the new Gopher football stadium, regardless of their seat location. Previously, the University decided to only allow alcohol to be served in luxury suites and premium seats.

Garofalo said he is confident that House committee chairs will give his bill a fair hearing.

"In a time of tight budgets, this seems like a common sense way to help those who have served our country fund their college education,"
Garofalo said. "Plus, it gives the University the chance to stop acting like a bunch of fuddy-duddies."