Bill to ban alcohol at collegiate athletic events introduced
January 18, 2011 at 1:56 pm in Grand Forks Herald
HB 1212 sponsor says it isn’t a ‘bill to ban tailgating’. Chuck Damschen didn’t expect to win any popularity points when he proposed banning alcohol at North Dakota collegiate athletic events, but the Republican state representative from Hampden said he’s been surprised by the rancor he’s stirred up in the public. Open story for video of Chuck Damschen explaining his decision to introduce HB 1212. Continue Reading
This really isn’t so much about the availability of alcohol at collegiate athletic events as it is about freedom of choice. Does a parent have the freedom to teach their children how to make good choices? Do the adults that operate the university system under the State Board of Higher Education have the autonomy to operate their organization within existing legal boundaries and be free from micromanaging legislators? Will responsible adults attending athletic events retain the freedom to have the choice of a beer or glass of wine, or not? I think Mr. Damschen tips his hand to his true motivation, that of imposing his version of morality on the rest of us indirectly through the University system. When he says “he used to drink, but he just outgrew itâ€, what he’s really saying is that through his moral prism any kind of drinking is evil and he’ll do what he can to restrict it wherever he can. This is the kind of person that perceives himself as ethically superior and therefore the only one that can make good decisions for society, the definition of a nanny-state regulator of the pious kind. When he says he’s concerned that “so many associate athletic events with alcohol†who is he talking about? I don’t know any of these “so many†individuals. Where is his proof; where is the data? He doesn’t provide anything more than his own opinion and scant anecdotal evidence of how we may be influencing young people to think it’s OK to drink. Well guess what, it is OK to enjoy an alcoholic beverage in moderation. If excessive drinking by minors or adults is a huge problem at events, enforce existing laws and start arresting people for public drunkenness. Make it public and visible and word will get around fast that you better demonstrate some control and moderation while at a game. And just to make it absolutely clear, I only get to 2 or 3 events in the course of the year so I really don’t care so much about “having to have several beers to enjoy the game†as the pious among us like to say. I just see this as another reason toâ€just say no†to nanny-state crusaders like Mr. Damschen.
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This is throwing it against the tide,,, move on to real issue’s.
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