Catering to the Young and Drunk

Baseball and other sports can be proud of the scofflaw attitude towards public inebriation. A new study in the journal Alcoholism:Clinical and Experimental Research (home delivery is a must) gives the big leagues another black eye.

The study found that:

People who are under age or visibly intoxicated can often buy alcohol at ballgames with ease, especially from vendors in the stands, according to a new study based on visits to 16 stadiums in five states.

...found that alcohol was sold to 18 percent of the testers who appeared under age and 74 percent of the testers who appeared intoxicated.

To test sales to minors, the study used people who were legally old enough to buy alcohol but looked younger. They were told to say they did not have identification with them if asked for proof of age.

And I always wonder why Americans continue to put up with stadium gouging. It's probably because its easier than sitting outside the package store in the shadows waiting for an unscrupulous homeless adult to hook you up.