Senate Bill 233 – The proposal to ban beer pong in Baltimore

Several minutes ago I received an email from Austin Lanham, an organizer of the Maryland Beer Pong League. The subject of the email is Senate Bill 233, which introduces legislation to ban the party slash bar game Beer Pong.

Article 2B – Alcoholic Beverages

21-105.1.

(B) A HOLDER OF A RETAIL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES LICENSE OR OWNER OR OPERATOR OF
A BOTTLE CLUB MAY NOT PROMOTE, ENCOURAGE, OR ALLOW ON THE PREMISES A
GAME COMMONLY KNOWN AS BEER PONG OR ANY OTHER GAME OR CONTEST THAT
INVOLVES DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR THE AWARDING OF DRINKS OF
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AS PRIZES.

1. Aside from being an absolutely ludicrous case of over-legislation, the bill itself is worded erroneously. Typically speaking, beer pong is played with two teams that have already purchased beer in order to fill the required cups. After the game is over and the beer is gone, they still have to purchase more beer. No beer is “awarded” by the bar itself, unless the participants themselves have agreed to purchase the next round in the event of a loss. Bar owners, in my experience, never give out free alcohol as a reward for winning beer pong games. The presence of the term “beer pong” is unnecessary if the only thing the bill is trying to do is prevent rewarding drinking with more drinking.
2. Every organized beer pong league game of which I have been in attendance does not require the consumption of alcohol for participation. The bill unfairly targets these leagues, which additionally provide excellent revenue and business for the city’s venues willing to provide the space for such events. A banning of beer pong would destroy these leagues, presumably any flip cup leagues, as well as any other activity that could potentially provide a free drink as reward – including bar trivia, any style of ‘beer olympics,’ or probably even a pie eating contest for all we know.
3. Personally speaking, if I’m a bar owner, I can give away beer to whomever I want. I paid for it, if I give it to a patron for free it’s a loss on my books. I realize the interstate laws of commerce may dictate otherwise, but keep your legislation out of my bar for the love of GOD, YOU’VE ALREADY DONE AWAY WITH 75% OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT MAKING GOING TO BARS ANY FUN AT ALL. JESUS.
4. Why on EARTH is this legislation SPECIFIC to Baltimore? Do we really have an epidemic of unruly beer pong enthusiasts destroying our pristine cityscape with their white balls of terror? Or, could it have more to do with making it easier for the city to suspend or yank the owner’s liquor license (as dictated in section C and D of the bill), hmmmm?? I can’t even imagine.

So please, if you are a city resident, or even an interested party, contact George Della Jr. via the following information and let him know what your opinions on the matter.

George W. Della. Jr.
Democrat, District 46, Baltimore City
(410) 841-3600, (301) 858-3600
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3600 (toll free)
e-mail: george.della@senate.state.md.us
801 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230 – 3912
(410) 244-8400; fax: (410) 528-8200

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2009-02-11 Edit:

The bill is dead, it didn’t even make it to committee. The people have spoken!