I put this in the Appalachian Football folder because it is about tailgating, which has been known to occur at times at App State football games, even though this particular incident revolves around a South Carolina vs. Alabama game.

It appears that a civil lawsuit has been filed in South Carolina to try to reign in some of the excesses associated with the burgeoning tailgate parties surrounding college football games today.

I'm really not sure where I fall on this issue. On the one hand, I enjoy the atmosphere associated with the tailgating experience, but have seen way too many instances of too much drinking and other excesses occur which leads to dangerous and sometimes fatal incidents. I realize that this is not nearly as big a problem at none BCS schools like App, but all it takes is one incident to cause huge publicity distractions.

That being said, I would not want to see it "anything goes" approach any more than a "police state" approach.

Others thoughts about this?

Here is the link to the article: http://www.thestate.com/2014/01/03/3189 ... issue.html

Unless there are some serious situations happening that I don't know about, APP is just fine. We have improved the public drunkenness and trash issues from a few times in the past.

I think if you have a tailgate party, and are supplying beer/liquior, then you have a responsibility to atleast keep and eye on everyone, and if someone, crosses the line, I wouldn't have a problem refusing them any more drinks, if for no other reasons then their safety and the safety of people around them. As far as this lawsuit, 1. Im surprised its taken so long for something this unfortunate and tragic to happen, been to many tailgates thru the years and seen many idiiots doing dumb and dangerous things with liquior the driving force behind their actions. Now, I don't believe in banning tailgate parties, I think they are an important part of the gameday atmosphere, and I believe 95 percent of fans who attend tailgating parties drink and act responsible, but that other 5 percent who endanger lives with their drinking should be help responsible for their actions.

Doesn't sound like they're talking about doing anything to actually restrict anyone's tailgating activities. Just adding legal responsibility if you're hosting a tailgate and one of your guests gets into trouble later.

NC State put in some minor limits about how early people could enter the parking lots a few years back after a fan got shot to death after one of their games. A few people were upset, but overall I don't think it's really hurt most people's experience too much. I think they still open as early, if not earlier, than App's parking lots on game day.

moehler wrote:Im surprised its taken so long for something this unfortunate and tragic to happen, been to many tailgates thru the years and seen many idiiots doing dumb and dangerous things with liquior the driving force behind their actions.

I'm not either, only because anytime someone has big pockets and something bad happens to someone, they sue the big pockets. No matter how remote the linkage is, if there is big pockets someone will be sued. After one or two of these lawsuits colleges will start limiting drinking and people will go back to hiding and drinking like the old days.

To me unless you're underage or your hands were tied and beer poured down your mouth, only one person is responsible for you drinking too much.

I agree 110% with you Maddog. We have become a society that enables those who have no accountability for their own actions.

AppSt94 wrote:I agree 110% with you Maddog. We have become a society that enables those who have no accountability for their own actions.

+1

My only problem is that tailgate parties are rarely within a confined area such that the "host" can keep an eye on his invitees. Unlike a bar, that has limited ingress and egress, you really have no control with whom you tailgate.

LKN_Lawyer wrote:My only problem is that tailgate parties are rarely within a confined area such that the "host" can keep an eye on his invitees. Unlike a bar, that has limited ingress and egress, you really have no control with whom you tailgate.

Also did they arrive drunk or was only drunk when they left? How long did they stay? Did you serve them or did they bring there own?

I see a little more responsibility on a bartenders parts, but even so once they "cut off" the patron what are they going to do most likely...get in their car and leave. The whole concept of you're responsible for how much someone else drinks is crazy to me. Yet people want to exempt Dr. from malpractice lawsuits.

The prison industrial complex never ceases looking for new sources of revenue generation.