Make Payment
Call Today
(952) 913-1421
Call Today
(952) 913-1421

Minnesota study suggests sporting events create DWI risk and more

According to sources, baseball stadiums across the country have reported an increase in the amount and severity of rowdy behavior during professional sports games. It is believed that this increase has been caused in part by alcohol consumption and the influx of younger, college-aged fans who have been frequenting the stadiums.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota decided to conduct an official study of the societal risks associated with professional sporting events and alcohol use. They found that alcohol laws and guidelines were poorly enforced, potentially contributing to a greater number of DWI and other alcohol-fueled incidents.

Some researchers who pretended to be severely intoxicated report that they were still served alcohol by vendors at sports games. The study also found that approximately 8 percent of sports fans have BAC levels that are greater than the legal limit when they leave the sports arena. Whether all of those intoxicated sports fans got behind the wheel to drive home is not reported, but it’s natural for safety advocates to worry that drunk driving is too common after a sporting event.

At most stadiums across the country, consuming alcoholic beverages before a sporting event is the norm. Then, most people continue to drink alcohol once they are inside the arena. According to reports, some researchers believe that this tradition of prolonged alcohol consumption has led to a number of violent outbursts at sports stadiums recently. During one recent alcohol-related incident, a man was beaten so badly at a sporting event that he ended up in a coma.

Some families have reported feeling reluctant to take their children to professional sporting events because the fans create a significant risk to the safety of their children. Other long-time fans have reported that they stopped attending professional sporting events altogether due to rowdy behavior by other fans. Some stadiums have made attempts to remedy this situation by providing “family-friendly” and “alcohol-free” sections.

Should different sports stadiums from the realm of baseball to football and beyond enforce stricter drinking laws? Critics recognize how unlikely it would be to ban alcohol from sporting events, since so many alcohol providers sponsor stadiums and events.

Source

NBC Sports: “Drunk baseball fans are causing big problems,” Eddie Pells, 24 May 2011

Max Keller image
Attorney Max Keller
Max Keller

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

Cinematic Court of Law and Justice Trial Proceedings. Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.
Court of Justice Trial. Pre-Trial Motions Hearing

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.
Man in handcuffs. Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.