Talking Points
· Introduction: We want to work together with Tate to develop acceptance of a beer and
wine sales policy. In doing so, we wish to solicit constructive criticism in order to strengthen
our case.
· What we’re proposing: Limited beer and wine sales in the Tate Center so that students who
are 21 can choose to consume alcohol after 5 PM as long as they are not drunk, over 21, and they
possess 2 IDs.
· Arguments in support:
· We’re all adults: Even those of us who are 18-year-old freshmen are now legal adults! We
should be entrusted with more control over our lives.
· And, thousands of UGA students are over 21: 5,800 graduate students, plus professional
students, plus non-traditional students, plus undergraduates who are under 21.
· Makes a forum for more student and faculty interaction: Many upper-level professors meet
with their students in bars off-hours. This will allow professors to mingle with all students.
· Will result in more revenue and visits to the Tate Center.
· Should the government make this decision for us?: Student autonomy is good for the
university and for student development.
· Promotes responsible drinking: Rules in place will set a model for responsible behaviors
as opposed to downtown drinking establishments. Tate Center is a more controlled environment.
We can also set prices…
· Safer than downtown: Tate officials and security will be able to exercise more control
over policy and behaviors. Police department is right next door.
· Bus service may help drunk driving:
· Alcohol consumption is down in America: Scientific American article. (Tangential issue:
If we’re worried about saving lives, why aren’t we doing more about traffic?)
· Other schools do it: Our limited survey found that many schools around the nation have
actual bars in their student centers: Duke (bar, restaurant, and grocery store with debit
purchasing from student id), Marshall, WVU, Shepard, Oxford, Wake Forest, Wisconsin State System,
MIT (two SGA-run on-campus bars), Kent State U (bar, restaurant, and dorm sales), Oswego State,
USF, FSU, UF, Tufts (bar and dorm sales), U of Houston, Vandy, Stanford, Rice (2 bars in student
center run by SGA), Wash. At St. Louis (student center bar).
· UGA does it! Alcohol is served both in the skyboxes and at the GA Center.
· Not a moral/religious issue: Many schools in the “Christian Bible-Belt” sell alcohol.
In addition, UGA is not a theocracy.
· The students are in support: Present petition.
· Look who signed the petition: Former SGA president, current IFC president, many of the
Panhellenic delegates, SGA senators, freshmen board members, chief officers of major student
organizations (Asian Law Students, Yds, WLSA, SBA, Sagan, Hispanic, etc), the current and former
president of the law school, the VP of the law school, the president of the 1st year class…
· Frame the issue: “What legitimate interest does the government have in restricting beer
and wine sales to those who are over 21 years of age?” Change the attack from “why” to “why not.”
· Abuse? Our policy proposal would restrict purchases to 1 beer/person and require that no
visibly intoxicated person be served.
· Underage drinking? Purchases would be required to present 2 forms of identification. In
addition, sale of 1 beer/person will prevent older people from purchasing drinks for underagers.
Last, individuals who drink underage or those who supply underage drinkers will open themselves
up to punishment both from Student Judiciary and from UGA PD.
· Inappropriate drinking? Sales would not start until most classes are finished. Our
proposal states 5 PM. In addition, the proposal only calls for beer and wine, no liquor will be
served.
· Slippery slope? Some may argue that allowing beer in will lead to a bar. Nope. A beer
& wine license is only $600. Liquor licenses are $2000. In addition, we don’t have room for a
bar!
Beer and Wine Sales in the Tate Student Center Proposal
Proposal:
We propose that the Tate Center allow limited beer and wine sales in the game room, movie
theater, and certain social events.
Beer and wine sales would be limited to address legitimate concerns associated with alcohol
consumption:
1. Purchasers would have to present 2 forms of identification.
2. Purchasers would only be able to buy 1 drink at a time.
3. Visibly intoxicated patrons would not be served.
4. Sales would only occur after 5 PM.
Why:
1. To promote student autonomy.
2. To serve the thousands of students, faculty, and staff who are over 21.
3. To keep more students on campus.
4. To create a forum for more student-faculty interaction.
5. Increase revenue and visits to the Tate Center.
6. To promote a model of responsible drinking.
7. To create safer facilities for students who choose to drink.
8. To provide a service offered at many other schools.
Implementation options from our survey:
1. Public-sponsor sales: For instance, auxiliary services.
2. Private-sponsor sales: For instance, a local business could contract.
3. SGA-sponsored sales: Some schools have SGA-run facilities.