Michigan State Football: 3 pros and cons to alcohol sales at athletic events

This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill that would allow alcohol sales at college sporting events in Michigan, granting the wishes of thousands of Michigan State football, basketball, and hockey fans.

Depending on how the season is going, there will be a lot of cheers-ing, or there could be a lot of drowned sorrows.

Either way, Spartan fans will be spending their hard-earned money on libations inside Spartan Stadium, the Bres, and Munn Arena.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of alcohol sales.

Pro: Stimulating the local economy

This is a two-fold benefit. Not only are people spending their hard-earned money at Spartan Stadium and if the university does this correctly, it can also promote local breweries from across this great state.

Michigan routinely ranks in the top 10 states for beer lovers (408 total micro-breweries) and Grand Rapids is even considered “Beer City, USA.” Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale is a regular gold medal winner at national beer competitions. Each home game can feature a new brewery with a few of its staple brews and help promote small businesses like Old Nation, Dark Horse, and 127 Brewing.

Of course, MSU can still sell the usual Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Labatt’s and those will be great sellers, but for a true Michigan experience, a variety of the state’s own golden nectar would make a great addition.