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Bruins fans like their beer more than Celtics fans

Garden officials revealed that fact at a hearing before the Boston Licensing Board today.

"There's significantly more beer drinking at Bruins games than at Celtics games," one Garden official told the board.

Of course, the officials and their high-priced lawyer from Ropes & Gray did not make their way to the eighth floor of City Hall just to discuss relative beer consumption. They were there to answer a citation issued by Boston Police on April 4 of this year for a drunken 16-year-old holding a beer and creating a disturbance during a Celtics/Spurs game.

The lawyer led the officials, who included the Garden's general manager and director of security through an extremely detailed review of the measures the Garden takes to keep teenagers from getting their hands on beer and running amok. Workers receive general training on keeping beer away from people under 21 and specific training applicable for sports settings. The Garden handles matters differently depending on the type of event - which is where the comparison of Bruins and Celtics fans came in. There are lots of security officers roaming the stands. On the night in question, the Garden had 250 people on duty with their eye out for trouble in the stands. Boston Police had details, too.

On and on they went. Finally, Licensing Board Chairwoman Nicole Murati Ferrer managed to interrupt. Let's get down to the main issue, she said: What was a 16-year old doing intoxicated and holding a beer in the stands?

Oh, the lawyer replied: We have no idea. The teen was uncooperative with security personnel and wouldn't say where he got the beer or how he got drunk.

The board decides Thursday what action, if any, to take over the incident.

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Comments

Short of banning all alcohol sales at games, how can this possibly be prevented?

Based on my experience, I'd say most inclined minors are drunk before they even show up at the Garden.

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As a 14 year Bruins season ticket holder (who doesn't drink) I could testify to how strongly the Gahden enforces their alcohol policies regarding age. Crowd watching is the best part of intermission. Everyone has to show a valid license - even 80 year old guys. They just don't make exceptions. Plus they have a staff of workers that go around and double check the IDs of young looking people holding drinks. I've seen those people ejected (my assumption is that someone passed them the booze.) However, on the way out of every game, I see lots of nip bottles and half pints of Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort and all sorts of aperitifs. There's very little the Gahden can do about that.

Now if the issue was over serving, I think the board would have a case because there are way too many people out of control during the games holding legally purchased drinks from the Gahden. These are the people that, typically, ruin everyone else's good time.

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MY WIFE and I held season tickets for a couple of years. I concur with Peter. Everyone gets carded, and they sometimes don't even accept perfectly legitimate ID.

I'm 55 and MY WIFE is 57. I've been asked for ID every time I've purchased alcohol at The Garden. She does not have a drivers license, but she does have a MA ID card. She has been refused service with that card, even though (forgive me, honey) she in no way appears underage.

Obviously, someone else bought the kid the beer and handed it to him. Duh. It happens. Posting huge signs stating that huge fines will be levied for such action, and also that PERMANENT ejection and loss of any season tickets will occur, might help (if the fines are actually collected and suspensions levied.)

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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Tell you when i was 16 or even 18 we drank befor and snuck pints in, just life some adults.

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As to what a 16 year old kid was doing holding a beer: Society told him he couldn't have it, so now he wants it even more.

Sheesh, for a lady with two college degrees, she comes across as a complete rube sometimes.

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So, in a stadium with 20,000+ people, one person bought a 16-year old a beer...and the Licensing Board has to take action? Come on. If they had video footage of the kid buying it at a stand with a fake ID, maybe the Board would have to get involved...but, as it is, what are you expecting them to do? Have compliance lackeys in every section in plain clothes?? It's a drunk 16-year-old. Lock him up, make his parents pick him up, and tell the Garden that it better not ever be discovered that they sold him the beer directly. Next.

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Police had no evidence of where the kid got drunk or got the beer, either.

Police did call his mother. And when she told them she couldn't pick him up for a couple of hours, they put him in protective custody until she could.

Just because the board holds a hearing, doesn't mean they'll find a violation occurred or even issue any sort of penalty (granted, yes, it does mean the Garden had to have some guy in an expensive suit swing downtown).

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Bruins fans drink a lot.

In other news, the Pope is catholic and the sun is hot.

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A microcosm of the drinking at these games can be found by dropping by Sullivan's Tap before each type of event. I can pretty much guarantee there aren't any 16 year olds drinking there or even inside the doors. :)

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Any adult over the age of 25 who gets drunk at a sporting event is a loser and needs a life.

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Uh. What?

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