UNC – Chapel Hill Monitoring Bill that would Allow Alcohol Sales at Athletics Events

A bill that would allow alcohol to be sold at athletics events on campuses across the UNC System is awaiting the governor’s signature to become law. And UNC – Chapel Hill officials appear eager to see its approval.

The North Carolina House overwhelmingly voted this week to approve the Senate version of the bill.

Advocates have argued the bill will create a more controlled environment for alcohol consumption at the events, while others say it will exacerbate drinking problems.

Each UNC System campus Board of Trustees would have the authority to authorize or deny the sale of alcohol at campus athletic events.

“I was one of several system university board chairs who signed the original letter of support that helped put this legislation in motion,” UNC – Chapel Hill Board of Trustee chair Haywood Cochrane said in a statement issued through the university, adding that he hoped “we’re able to move this forward.”

The sale of alcohol in college stadiums has been a growing trend across the country, “including during NCAA championships and ACC Tournaments,” UNC Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham said in a university-released statement.

“Many individual universities have supported it, and their research shows that binge drinking and alcohol-related incidents decrease when alcohol is sold in a controlled environment.”

Game management staff and UNC’s concessions partner would bring a presentation to Cunningham regarding “the different scenarios involved in such sales,” if the bill becomes law, according to Cunningham.

Governor Roy Cooper has not said whether he favors the bill. A spokeswoman for Cooper told the Associated Press the governor will review the bill before making a decision.