WAC noncommittal
about banning alcohol

The conference leaves the decision
on whether to sell alcohol up to
the schools, for now

The Western Athletic Conference does not have a policy regarding alcohol sales at member-hosted regular-season events. Commissioner Karl Benson said it is up to each school.

"It's always going to end up as an institutional decision," Benson said in a phone interview Friday. "I don't see the conference trying to regulate regular-season events. Postseason and WAC championship events, we will continue to look at."

The issue comes to a head here Thursday, as Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona presents his case for a total ban of alcohol at UH home games to the Aloha Stadium Authority. UH interim president David McClain said he supports at least stopping sales in the stadium.

They want the ban to go into effect for UH's next home game, the Sept. 3 season opener against USC.

Aiona and McClain have cited a nationwide trend of dry college stadiums, and proposed legislation to prohibit drinking at all NCAA events. They also point out that USC recently became the final Pac-10 school to stop selling alcohol at football games.

In the WAC, Hawaii, Fresno State, Nevada and San Jose State have alcohol sales in the stadium at home football games.

The other five WAC schools -- Boise State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and Utah State -- do not.

Benson said the league will look at banning alcohol at WAC championship events, such as its postseason basketball, volleyball and baseball tournaments. This could affect UH, since McClain said there are no plans to stop alcohol sales at events at the Stan Sheriff Center or Les Murakami Stadium.

"We've addressed it in the past, talked about whether alcohol sales are appropriate at WAC championship events, but we've never taken a position," Benson said. "If an institution sells alcohol, while hosting a WAC basketball tournament, for example, it's been permitted."

Benson said the earliest a ban would go into effect would be the 2006-2007 school year.

"Obviously it's an issue receiving more and more attention," he said. "It is an issue at the institutional and conference standpoint."

Aiona and McClain want a ban at UH games because of rowdy fans in the stadium due to drinking, as well as the idea that college sports should not be associated with drinking. McClain said he might be willing to give up $200,000 per year in alcohol-related advertising revenue (UH does not make money from alcohol sales at Aloha Stadium).

Fresno State has a reputation for overly boisterous fans, some of whom are fueled by alcohol. In 2003, several FSU students were arrested for public intoxication after cups and plastic bottles of beer were reportedly thrown at Oregon State players during a game at Bulldog Stadium.

Fresno State has since implemented measures to improve the atmosphere, such as limiting alcohol at pregame tailgate parties. The school has stopped short of banning alcohol sales in the stadium.

"The idea's been thrown around, but nothing solid," Roger Kirk of the Fresno State sports information department said.

San Jose State and Nevada officials said they haven't had major problems involving alcohol at games. Both schools often play day games, and that means tailgaters have less time to imbibe before games.

"We've got lots of barley and hops," San Jose State sports information director Lawrence Fan said. "Tailgating is OK. There haven't been any problems I've heard of."

Nevada sports information director Jamie Klund said it is unlikely alcohol would be banned at events on the Reno campus.

"Pretty much everything is available. If you want scotch on the rocks, you can get scotch on the rocks," Klund said. "Because we are in a gaming environment, alcohol is prevalent. But we haven't had any problems. We have good security."

Alcohol was sold at the WAC basketball tournament last March in Reno. The tournament is scheduled to be played there again next March. It could be the last time alcohol is available at a WAC championship event.

The WAC and Alcohol

The individual institutions choose their own policies for alcohol sale and consumption at home football games in the Western Athletic Conference

School	Sold in stadium	Allowed in lot	Comment
Boise State	No	No	Corporate beer tents
Hawaii	Yes	Yes	Lt. Gov. pushing ban
Fresno State	Yes	Yes	OK in designated lot areas
Idaho	No	Yes	OK at approved parties
Louisiana Tech	No	No	Shreveport games not dry
Nevada	Yes	Yes	No kegs in parking lot
New Mexico State	No	Yes	OK in designated lot areas
San Jose State	Yes	Yes	Family section available
Utah State	No	Yes	No sales on campus