Boozy college tailgating gets crackdown in state

This article is from the Detroit "Free Press". Thanks to Judge Mitch for sending it to the "Sig Ep-Talk" group first.

Tailgating goes with football like bratwurst and beer, a revered tradition bringing college students, alumni and fans together in the shadow of the stadiums. But college administrators are cracking down after seeing the parties too often turn into dangerous booze-fests, like those where fans pound five drinks in 10 minutes during drinking games.

Alarmed by a steady increase in alcohol-related incidents and an alleged sexual assault after a game last month, Michigan State University announced new rules this week designed to curb binge drinking.

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At MSU, members of the school's fraternities and sororities decided last month to impose their own limits on their tailgating parties held outside the MSU Auditorium on the banks of the Red Cedar River, according to Douglas Bingham, vice president of MSU's Interfraternity Council.

"After the Sept. 11 game against Central, we imposed changes because we saw too many people getting too drunk," said Bingham, 22, a senior from Livonia and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. "We have appointed sober monitors, banned drinking games and hard liquor. People recognized there's a responsibility that comes with tailgating."

Bingham said after the change he saw fewer people who were dangerously drunk at the parties.

Boozy college tailgating gets crackdown in state