Syracuse fans used to having a cold one — while cheering on their team — found themselves a bit parched down in Houston.

No alcohol was served at the Final Four. In fact, the NCAA has never served alcoholic beverages at any of its events, according to Michelle Hosick, the NCAA’s associate director of public and media relations.

The Carrier Dome was just one of 23 on-campus stadiums to sell alcohol during the 2015 season, according to the drinking website VinePair. Another 11 serve alcohol at off-campus sporting events.

Beer has been sold at the Carrier Dome since it opened in 1980, said Sue Edson, executive senior associate and chief communications officer at SU.

“Of course, there are sales policies that are in place to encourage responsible consumption,” Edson said. “These include anyone under the age of 35 needing to be asked for an ID, no beer hawkers are permitted in the student section, sales end at halftime of the game and there is also a limit on the number of beers per person.”

Junior Kylie Sanders, a Carrier Dome employee who works the concession stand, said drinking is extremely popular at Dome events.

“It’s always really busy, the line never stops,” said Sanders, a communication and rhetorical studies major. “Alcohol for the most part is the most popular item. It definitely brings in a lot of money for the school.”

The option of selling alcohol is ultimately up to the universities themselves, according to Amy Yakola, chief of external affairs for the ACC.

“The decision on whether to sell alcohol at sporting events occurs at the institutional level,” Yakola said.

Clemson University, like most ACC schools, does not sell alcohol, according to Dan Radakovich, Clemson University’s director of athletics.

“I will tell you that the sale of alcohol is not on our radar at Clemson,” Radakovich said. “Alcohol is available in our premium areas at football, but general sale is not something we are contemplating.”

Patrick Harris, a freshman finance major at Clemson, said that just because alcohol isn’t sold at the school’s events doesn’t mean the students don’t party.

“Students at this school usually drink a lot beforehand in order to prep for the game because they can’t buy anything there,” Harris said. “Even my dad finds it weird that he can’t buy a casual beer at the game.”

Meanwhile, some think being able to buy beer at the Dome gives Syracuse an edge.

“For students to be able to drink together I think unifies the crowd a lot,” said Syracuse University senior advertising major Lauren Mossberg. “It’s something special to Syracuse that students around the country don’t have, and I think that’s something that makes us different. Also, for alumni, I think it makes it a more professional environment that they’re used to, because at professional sporting events that’s a given thing that is able to be purchased.”

With binge drinking such a big concern on campuses, it might seem that Syracuse is among the few schools that still sells alcohol at its events.

This may not necessarily always be the case. Hosick, the NCAA’s associate director of public and media relations, said that the NCAA is considering loosening its restrictions and is launching a pilot program at the NCAA College World Series, where for the first time ever, alcohol will be available to the general public at an NCAA championship event.

Published on April 6, 2016 at 6:13 pm