The Southeastern Conference approved a policy Friday at its spring meetings to allow its member schools to sell beer and wine at athletic events.
The rule takes effect Aug. 1 and leaves the discretion of whether to sell alcohol open to each SEC school.
“Our policy governing alcohol sales has been a source of considerable discussion and respectful debate among our member universities in recent years,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “As a Conference, we have been observant of trends in the sale and consumption of alcohol at collegiate sporting events and have drawn upon the experiences and insights of our member schools which have responsibly established limited alcohol sales within controlled spaces and premium seating areas.”
Alcohol previously had been available only in premium seating areas, such as luxury boxes, at SEC venues.
The policy comes with several rules, including where alcohol can be sold within venues, a limit on how many beverages can be purchased per transaction and specific times alcohol can be sold at each event.
