Alabama State Sen. seeks to outlaw beer kegs.
 

(The following article reproduced was circulated in Fraternity circles.)


Long considered a requirement at college social functions,the beer keg may be soon going the way of the dodo, if state Sen. Bobby Singleton has anything to do with it

Singleton,D-Greensboro, who admitted to enjoying his share of keg beer at fraternity functions when he was at Alabama State[Univ.],has sponsored a bill in the Alabama Legislature that will outlaw retail sales of the high-volume beer barrels. Singleton said he's become one of Montgomery's most-called lawmakers since introducing the bill in the state Senate last week. The Senate passed the bill 30-0. "I probably got the first 10 calls from my fraternity brothers," the 1984 Alabama State graduate,a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, said."They weren't real happy, but this is about looking at the big picture,what's responsible and what's the right thing to do." Singleton said he sponsored the bill after being approached by members of the wine and beer industry and local law enforcement in his district,which includes Demopolis.

"I got calls from sheriffs who talked about arresting teenagers for drunk driving,and breaking up big parties in the middle of fields,where they found kegs that all the kids were drinking from." he said."These kids would have someone of age buy the keg,then come back and sell it by the cup." Legal drinkers statewide might have a problem with the limitation on their drinking habits,Singleton admitted, but the risk paled in comparison with protecting young people's lives."If these things are making it easier for young (Alabamians)to drink,then we need to stop the sale of kegs," he said. "It may not totally stop them(from drinking),but at least it will make it more difficult and expensive." Singleton said his bill--overwhelmingly approved by the the Senate--just received its first reading in the House of Representatives.

"Que Psi Phi 'til the day I die!"

They were illegal when I was at Auburn in the seventies; I don't know when they became legal. College students would drive over to Columbus, GA, where the drinking age was 18 and kegs were legal and buy them in lots.

So instead students will purchase cans in high volume?

Maybe it will drive students more towards hard alcohol/jungle juice type drinks made in large cans?

-Rudey

the only people this would affect is independants since kegs are forbidden by all national sororities and most if not all national fraternities (except with third party vendors--ie. bars)- as well as the NIC and NPC.

this was all just brought up and starting to be enforced at the campus where i am in grad school and all the students are up in arms.....what they don't realize is many of them sign alcohol policies each year saying no kegs or hard liquor except from approved third party vendors...maybe people should read things more before they sign them.

I hear that laws against underaged drinkers also won't affect the NIC and NPC since they are against it and fight it with vigilance.

-Rudey

Prohibition?

Making senseless laws only increases lawlessness because people will view them with contempt. Once on law is broken it is very easy to justify breaking another.

perhaps this law is being pushed through by the party-ball lobby.

Those things are the BEST. They're like the energizer bunny, they just keep going and going long after you think they should be done.

In all seriousness, I wouldn't be surprised if the hard alcohol/wine manufacturers have a hand in this.

Party balls are a waste of money. You don't get nearly as much beer for about the same price of a keg.

Keg = $50
Party Ball = $38.

Twelve extra bucks gets like twice as much.

I don't see why wine/liquor makers would even care. Their market is for the most part different. Rednecks and poor college kids drink cheap beer, while those with taste drink wine and whiskey. Vodka is for alcoholics and freshman girls.

They are, however, much easier for wimpy girls to carry. :) Plus they're cute.

They did the Keg and beer ball ban at my school, but they only applied it to Greek and on campus housing. Off campus apts still had them sometimes right after the ban because of the novelty, but they kinda faded after a while. Yes, 30 packs were everywhere after the ban, but the concept was to keep the public beer fountains to a min and cut down on parties, which it did. But did banning kegs end parties? Nope. Just made people more creative when they threw them.

What is a party ball?

-Rudey

It's a big plastic ball filled with beer that you tap. I can't believe I couldn't find a pic online! You probably never had one Rudith, they mostly come in Coors Light and I know that's slumming for you. :)

First of all, at least drink Bud Light.

Second of all, I can't find a picture on google.

Finally, why would you tap a ball?? Wouldn't it roll all over? How do you even carry it?

-Rudey

It comes in a box, you can fill it with ice. Here they are only like 29 bucks for 55 beers of bud light. I don't think the keg ban would be a big deal if it went through, very few houses use kegs anyway due to university restrictions. That being said, I highly doubt the NIC rules are really stopping anyone.