Beer and Sports Fans

The next time you attend a sporting event you are likely to buy a beer but you will be in the minority. Let’s face it; sports fans enjoy their alcohol before and during games.  Surprisingly, that number is less than half of all attendees.

The University of Michigan has released a study that says that 8% of people that leave a major sporting event are over the .08 level, and 40% had consumed alcohol. This study is said to be the first in the U.S. that analyzes blood alcohol levels of people that attend major sporting events.

The study was entitled Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. In the study, 362 attendees were studied while the attending 13 baseball games and 3 football games.

Tailgaiting before can increase your BAC

Not surprisingly, people that tailgated before a game were 14 times more likely to be over a .08 breath level. Younger fans (under 35) were more likely to be over the .08 level. Can We Assess Blood Alcohol Levels of Attendees Leaving Professional Sporting Events? – Erickson – 2011 – Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research – Wiley Online Library

Dr. Stephen Ross, who is an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine and clinical director of the NYU-Langone Center of Excellence and Addiction calls the says the “the numbers are startlingly alarming.” He contends that alcohol consumption is a well-known part of the sports culture, and is clearly a public safety hazard.

But the details of the study indicate that the 40% leaving an event had breath alcohol ranging all the way down to .005.  Its unknown what percent were driving or simply walking.

If you have been cited with DUI, Minor Driving after Drinking, Minor in Possession or any alcohol related citation, it is important to speak with an experienced and dedicated defense attorney as soon as possible. Trombold Law offers free face to face consultations for case analysis. Call our office at (206) 382-9200 to set up an appointment so you can get on your way to feeling better.