COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina's new policy to allow alcohol sales at most major sporting events began Thursday night.
Beer and wine were available for purchase at the Colonial Life Arena which was the site for the SEC opener for the Gamecock women's basketball team.
Last month, the USC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to let alcohol be sold at all basketball, football, and baseball games. It's a change in policy that was possible because of a new rule passed last spring that allowed SEC teams to decide on their own if they would allow people to purchase the beverages.
Leaders within the athletic department at USC, including Athletic Director Ray Tanner, decided against selling alcohol at Williams-Brice Stadium last fall, saying they wanted to study the issue.
This past season, LSU was one of six teams that did sell alcohol, and generated over $2 million in sales.
The first men's basketball games under the new policy will be on Jan. 7 vs. Florida. The first baseball game at Founders Park is Feb. 14 vs. Holy Cross. And finally, the first football game with alcohol sales at Williams-Brice Stadium will be for the football team's contest on September 5 against Coastal Carolina.
The university says both they and the athletics' concessionaire, Aramark, have worked to ensure that gameday sales of beer and wine is conducted in a safe and responsible manner.
Identification checks will be required for all sales. Sales will stop at the following times:
- Football (end of 3rd quarter);
- Basketball (Men's-Second half 12-minute TV timeout; Women's-End of 3rd quarter);
- Baseball (end of the top of 7th inning)
