SEC lifts 30-year ban on alcohol at on-campus events

Southern collegiate sporting events just got a little rowdier — if that's even possible.

The Southeastern Conference overturned its 30-year ban on alcohol in general seating areas at on-campus events on Friday, becoming the last collegiate conference to rid itself of league-wide alcohol standards, reports CBS Sports.

The lifted ban will allow SEC schools to exercise their own discretion over whether to sell beer or wine at stadiums and other on-campus venues. Drinks will not be sold by portable vendors in seating areas but at designated concession locations, and no hard liquor or mixed drinks will be sold.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Drinkers will also need to get their fill before the end of the game. Sales will be cutoff at the end of the third quarter in football games and near the 75 percent mark in other sports, per CBS Sports.

The SEC's decision comes after a nationwide trend in recent years allowing booze at more events. The NCAA ended its ban on selling alcohol at championship events last spring, reports Sports Illustrated.

The change will go into effect Aug. 1, 2019.