WASHINGTON — When the Maryland Terrapins kick off their football season this Saturday in College Park, there will be something new on tap for fans at Byrd Stadium.
The university will begin a one-year pilot program that makes beer available to fans old enough to drink.
Joe Mullineaux, UMD’s senior associate director of dining, said the school isn’t promoting beer, it’s promoting responsibility. For instance, instead of stands with popular beer logos, drinkers will see signs that say “drink responsibly” and “21 means 21.”
“The university has always embraced the concept of responsible drinking in controlled environments, so this is just an extension of that,” Mullineaux said.
Safety is a priority, he said, and more than 500 servers have received certification from Maryland’s TIPs Alcohol Training Program. Anyone younger than 40 will have to show ID to buy a beer. Servers are trained to tell when someone has had enough beer.
Rules will also include one beer per person for every transaction. Anyone looking to buy more than one brew must have the person they’re buying it for with them.
Staff members will serve as alcoholic beverage control officers during the game. Four UMD police officers will be on-hand to deal with issues related to drinking and beer sales.
“Anybody who misrepresents their age, or anybody who is of age who provides a beer to someone underage is going to be criminally charged by the police department,” Mullineaux said.
Beers will cost $8; sizes will vary from 12 ounces to 16 ounces depending on the beer. Fans can choose from national brands like Coors, Miller Light and several ciders. Three Maryland brewers also made the cut: DuClaw, Flying Dog and Heavy Seas.
The Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners gave the University of Maryland the green light to sell beer in June. If the pilot program is successful, it could expand to include alcoholic offerings, such as wine in the coming years.
Mullineaux said 40,000 beers have been ordered. Beer sales are expected to bring in $500,000 in profit, which will be used for alcohol staff training and several counseling programs for students.
As for food, this year’s theme is Maryland Pride, Mullineaux said. The Green Turtle from Ocean City will have a stand at the stadium. Also available to fans at games: crab cakes from the Crab Place in Crisfield, and hotdogs from Hoffman’s Quality Meats in Hagerstown.
University of Maryland Ice Cream is also a crowd favorite, Mullineaux said. This year’s new flavor is Brenda’s Peanut Butter Freeze, which will join other popular flavors like Rockin’ Randy and Fear the Turtle.
