LANSING (WWJ) - It's the likely end to a Prohibition-era law that prohibits Michigan from selling alcohol at games hosted at public universities after lawmakers voted to advance a bill designed to lift the ban on Tuesday -- with some new changes.
Instead of just sporting games, the new measures would also allow the sale of alcohol at events held at the university, such as concerts.
The Senate Bill 247 was approved unanimously by Democrats and Republicans in a 10-0 vote on June 13 before it was sent to the Senate floor. It is expected to be voted on soon.
"If things go well, maybe fans have beers in their hands in the fall," said the sponsor, Democratic Sen. Sean McCann of Kalamazoo.
Michigan's Big Ten schools would join eleven other universities in the conference that already sell alcohol at their facilities if the bill passes. including Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa.
There are currently only three schools within the Big Ten conference - Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska - that do not allow alcoholic drinks at games.
Supporters said in Tuesday's Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee that selling alcohol could reduce binge drinking. The other Big Ten schools that currently allow beer, liquor and wine sales do not appear to have any issues from it.
"We're really an outlier at this point when it comes to the Big Ten events," McCann said. "It's worked well in other venues where it's been implemented. It's a place where our institutions want to be. They think it increase the fan experience. Actually some people have come to them kind of puzzled that they're not able to do this in Michigan venues, universities."
Representatives from MSU, Western Michigan University, Oakland University, Central Michigan University, Northern Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University joined in on the committee, lending full support for the new proposal.
The committee opened the door to changes. In addition to allowing universities in Michigan to obtain licenses to sell alcohol at their games for up to 100 days each year, the bill also approves the sale of alcohol at other events held on university property, such as concerts, for an additional five days each year.
Sales could occur starting one hour before an event until it ends.
Throughout the entire morning meeting, no one spoke in opposition to the bill.
The bill must now gain approval from the full House, as well as two-thirds support in the Senate where it would then come to rest at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk for her signature.
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