Lawmaker Serves Up New TCF Stadium Booze Bill

ST. PAUL  (AP) -- Minnesota lawmakers are coping with their three-year hangover: Whether to allow beer and alcohol sales at the University of Minnesota's on-campus football stadium.

The latest bill leaves the matter entirely up to the school's Board of Regents after previous legislative efforts to fashion a compromise left the stadium dry. The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee advanced the bill Wednesday, but it has a ways to go.

Sen. Geoff Michel says state lawmakers have "kind of become a liquor control board for the University of Minnesota." Current law permits a liquor license at TCF Bank Stadium if beer is made available in at least one-third of the general seating area.

The university wants to restrict sales to suites and premium seating, arguing it would make those tickets more attractive and lucrative and make it easier to prevent consumption by minors.

Opponents of the suite-only policy consider it to be elitist.

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