UA spills on beer policy

If you’re planning on drinking beer during Homecoming this weekend, there are a few rules you need to know.

Most importantly: If you want to drink beer, you need to go to one of six beer stations run by the Arizona Alumni Association, organizers said.

“(The rule’s) more stringent than what it used to be,” said Alumni Association president Christopher Vlahos. “Student organizations could no longer be in charge of selling their own alcohol. Alcohol will still be sold on campus but you have to buy it from the Alumni Association.”

The policy was changed after the State Liquor Board said the high amount of underage drinking was unacceptable, Vlahos said.

University of Arizona Police Department Sgt. Juan Alvarez said that, because of the new policy, underage drinking hasn’t been a problem at events like homecoming.

“It hasn’t been a problem because generally they designate an area on the Mall for people,” Alvarez said. “If they want to drink they have to present ID and get a band, so it’s controlled in that respect other than normal tailgate procedures.

If you’re planning on buying beer, here’s what you need to know:

— Bringing alcohol into
         the event isn’t allowed.
— Beer tickets, or tabs,
          can be purchased
          at the event at six
          beer stations marked
          with red balloons
          between 9 a.m.
          and 1 p.m.
— Each beer ticket
          costs $4.
— You will need to show
         a valid driver’s license
         to get a hand-stamp
          and a wristband.
— You are only allowed
          one beer at a time
          and two beers
          during the first
          two hours.
— Two additional beers are
          allowed after
          11 a.m.
— The last beers will be
          served at 1:15 p.m.
— Refunds aren’t available
          for unused tickets.