Alcohol sales OK'd for UNCW

On the best plays at Trask Coliseum this season, you'll be able to raise a glass for the Seahawks.

On Friday morning, the UNCW Board of Trustees approved the sale of alcohol at sporting events on campus.

For now, this rule will only apply for events at Trask Coliseum. More events and locations -- including potentially Brooks Field, Boseman Field or the UNCW Soccer Stadium -- will be approved in February 2020. 

“We are very interested in possibly offering those beer and wine sales at baseball, softball and soccer in the future," UNCW athletic director Jimmy Bass said.

A previous motion, which was unanimously moved forward in July, let the university apply for an ABC sales permit with its food service partner, Aramark.

During its presentation before the vote, UNCW laid out updates it would make to its alcohol policy, as well as procedures it would take during events that serve alcohol. Some of the changes:

• The university will specify certain times for sale of alcohol during an event; for basketball games, that time is when gates open (90 minutes before tip) to the first media timeout of the second half for men's games and the beginning of the third quarter for women's games.

• Everyone serving beer or wine will be a "certified and properly trained server."

• Each sale can only include one beverage per transaction. Buyer must have an ID wristband, provided for free at ID stations. Projected price for most items is currently $8 per beverage for 16 ounces of beer and six ounces of wine. Beer will be sold in cans and/or plastic bottles, not on draft. The university and Aramark will split the gross revenues 50/50.

• Beer and wine stands at Trask Coliseum will be separate from food and beverage concessions. There will be one line downstairs, selling beer, wine and snacks such as chips and popcorn. For men's games, there will also be up to eight lines upstairs, in the Golden Hawk Room, selling beer, wine, snacks and some hot foods.

• Officials will be added to monitor fan safety and behavior.

According to its presentation, the university did a training session on Tuesday of this week and will put its plan into place for Saturday's women's exhibition game against Lenoir-Rhyne. Presenter Miles Lackey, the Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs, said every person under the age of 40 will be asked for identification. Servers were also trained to identify individuals that are intoxicated.

“At this point in time we did not believe it was necessary to require that there is a per event (drink) limit. That is subject to change if we do experience any problems with intoxication, etc. so that will be subject to change,” Lackey said. 

Alcohol sales will be available at the men's season opener on Nov. 5 vs. Johnson & Wales, as well as the much-anticipated game with North Carolina on Nov. 8. That game was declared a sellout on Thursday.

"We are very much committed to having a safe environment for our fans, our students and families. Certainly we will work really hard to continue to have a healthy atmosphere at not only our basketball games but certainly all of our athletic events,” Bass said. “We are very interested in enhancing the fan experience and if we can offer adult beverages in a controlled away and it helps us draw folks to our athletic events we are all for it.”

Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 389, which allows North Carolina system schools to sell alcohol at stadiums, athletic facilities or arenas located on their property, into law at the end of June.

The Board of Trustees at each UNC System school has been allowed to decide on whether or not they will allow alcohol sales. Some schools are already selling at their football stadiums.

The bill allows for the sale of malt beverages, unfortified or fortified wine. The premises of a stadium, athletic facility, or arena would include any area that meets the following requirements: “It is within 500 feet of the furthest exterior building wall, perimeter fence, or permanent fixed perimeter; It is designated by the stadium, athletic facility, or arena in a map or written description that clearly defines the boundaries of the area, and that map or written description is included in the permit application.” 

Reporter Joey Chandler can be reached at 910-343-2034 or JChandler@starnewsonline.com.