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Campus Bars Face Alcohol Limits for Game Day
29 Mar
Summary
- Alcohol sales will be restricted on campus for Saturday's game.
- Bars must use paper and plastic cups for all alcohol sales.
- This is the first time in 20 years such restrictions have been implemented.
Champaign city officials have implemented emergency alcohol restrictions for Saturday night on the University of Illinois campus. These measures are a proactive step to prevent property damage and excessive celebrations should the Illinois basketball team defeat Iowa in the Elite Eight, advancing to the Final Four.
The order mandates that all campus bars serve alcohol exclusively in paper and plastic cups. Additionally, the sale of packaged liquor will be prohibited beginning one hour after the game's tipoff. Deliveries of alcohol to or from campus will also be banned during this timeframe.
These restrictions, the most stringent in 20 years, follow concerns raised by local police regarding fan behavior during previous celebrations. Officials cited incidents of fans climbing on statues after the team's Sweet 16 victory as a reason for implementing these safety measures.
Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen urged fans to celebrate responsibly, emphasizing that the steps are intended to mitigate public safety hazards. Deputy liquor commissioner Jeff Hamilton clarified that this is not a complete alcohol ban, but rather a measure to prevent hazards like broken glass bottles.
