Now, what are the specific objections to excessive drinking at a
football game? It would be tiring to enumerate them all, but atten-
tion might be called to these. First, the discomfort caused those
who really enjoy a football game sensibly, and who are in the vast
majority at almost all games, by offensive manners and conversation
of inebriates in their vicinity; second, epithets hurled at officials and
players, and the generally objectionable conversation, language and
actions of those too dulled to know what good sportsmanship is;
third, the permanent effect of such influences upon boys of school
age who attend games with their parents or alone. Certainly, almost
any place of entertainment would be more wholesome for them than
some of the largely patronized games; fourth, the acts of rowdyism
and vandalism both in the stands and on the field such as received
wide notice during the past season; fifth, the increasing number of
motor accidents reported on Saturday nights during the height of
the football season, attributable to those returning from games who
were in no condition to drive, contributing considerably to the ap-
palling annual motor casualty list; sixth, the unpleasant exhibition
which anyone makes of himself when under the influence of liquor.

In order to be sure that I understand the points of view of those
closest to the situation in football, I took the trouble to secure from
a considerable number of graduate managers, representative alumni
and students their ideas. While there is considerable diversity of
opinion as to whether or not drinking has actually increased at the
games the last few years, and while the majority do not object
to drinking in the stands if it does not become obnoxious, there
is a very general agreement upon several points. All state that
drinking to excess is repugnant to them and their families and takes
away much of the pleasure of the games from the majority of
those in attendance. They deplore the bad effect which witnessing
the actions of many older spectators has on boys and girls, one
alumus remarking that 90% of boy life is copied life. They feel
that drinking at football games may in large measure be accounted
for by the fact that the occasion is looked upon as a holiday and that
drinking has become a growing social custom in this connection. It
appears to be the definite feeling of a vast majority of the alumni
that if we could return to the old idea that drinking in public places
such as stadia is an exhibition of bad manners the result would be
excellent. How to reach that objective they do not know.