The Boston Red Sox have recently reached an agreement with Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston police, and various community organizations, paving the way for the sale of mixed alcoholic beverages to fans seated throughout Fenway Park.
In a hearing before the Boston Licensing Board, Red Sox representatives disclosed that they had finalized this agreement during a recent meeting with Boston police and other city officials. The Red Sox have committed to restricting the sale of mixed drinks to just five designated refreshment stands, with one of these stands being relocated further from the bleacher section.
Despite obtaining city permission, the Red Sox will still need approval from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, a process that may take several more weeks to complete.
Team officials have assured that they will not offer straight hard liquor to fans in general seating areas, and the alcoholic content of the mixed drinks will not exceed that of a cup of beer.
In response to concerns raised by the police and Mayor Menino, the Red Sox have also agreed to cease the sale of mixed drinks two hours after the commencement of games. In contrast, beer sales are permitted until the conclusion of the seventh inning or 2 ½ hours after the game’s commencement.
These concerns initially emerged during the mid-2000s when beer sales at Fenway Park surged, coinciding with a notable increase in complaints about inebriated fans and disruptive behavior, as reported by the Boston Globe.
Team officials, in collaboration with Boston licensing board members, have since acknowledged that the number of complaints related to alcohol-induced incidents at Fenway has decreased, and there has been a substantial improvement in fan behavior, particularly in the bleacher section.
