REPORT: Committee Votes To Lift Michigan's Ban On Alcohol Sales At Big Ten Sporting Events

Michigan's longstanding law of prohibiting the sale of alcohol at Big Ten sporting events could soon be coming to an end.

It appears that the state of Michigan is headed toward eliminating a ban on alcohol sales at Big Ten sporting events, per David Eggert (politics/policy reporter for Crains Detroit).

Busy morning in Lansing. A committee votes to lift Michigan's ban on public alcohol sales at university sporting events (Big Ten games) & concerts. Another panel votes to end a requirement to start school after Labor Day (many schools already get waivers to start earlier) #mileg

— David Eggert (@DavidEggert00) June 13, 2023

As of now, 11 of the 14 Big Ten schools currently allow the sales of alcohol at sporting events, including Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa. 

Just three schools within the Big Ten conference - Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska - currently don't allow alcohol sales.  

With the ban in the process of potentially being lifted in Michigan, both the University of Michigan and Michigan State could soon be offering alcohol to fans attending games in the fall. While some critics believe that the sale of alcohol could do more harm than good, the reality is that alcohol consumption is already prevalent within the stadiums on gamedays. 

The new bill, sponsored by Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, would allow the University of Michigan Michigan State University to obtain licenses to sell alcohol at their games for up to 100 days each year.  The bill would also allow for the sale of alcohol at other events, such as concerts, for an additional five days each year.

"If things go well, maybe fans have beers in their hands in the fall," McCann said.

EDITORS NOTE

Senate Bill 247 passed out of the Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs this morning, but still requires a vote in the full Senate, and then it will make its way over to the House of Representatives for their committee and full chamber votes. After that, it will still need to be signed by the Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Although those who are involved in pushing Senate Bill 247 are very optimistic that the bill will be signed into law, there are still a few more steps in the process.