Some lawmakers think the University of Minnesota, not the Legislature, should have the power to decide where and to whom it sells alcohol at campus venues. We agree, and we hope the school will be fair in serving alcohol should they gain control.
On Wednesday, a Senate committee passed a bill repealing a law requiring the school to sell alcohol to at least one-third of general seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium and other campus venues. The law was originally enacted after the school announced plans to sell alcohol only to fans in premium seating areas. The University decided to sell no alcohol rather than open it up to general areas.
But the new billâÄôs sponsor, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel, R-Edina, now says the Board of Regents should decide the schoolâÄôs alcohol policy. Under the bill, the school could choose who could buy booze at the stadium, Northrop Auditorium and up to seven other venues.
WeâÄôre on board with MichelâÄôs proposal, in principle âÄî the school should have the right to determine where it sells alcohol. But weâÄôre concerned about President Bob BruininksâÄô chief of staff, Kathryn Brown, who told the committee the school would revert to its planned policy of selling only to those in premium seats. The plan pangs of unfairness: Everyone of age should be able to buy alcohol when they attend a sporting event.
Sen. Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said the schoolâÄôs plan is âÄúhypocrisy,âÄù and we agree. It makes sense that the school should have control over this decision. But if this bill passes, the University should sell alcohol to everyone or to no one.