Florida president airs concerns surrounding drinking at UF-Georgia football game
July 6, 2009 by The Red and Black Archives
Filed under News
The University of Florida president sent a letter to Jacksonville officials last week to address concerns about the abundant alcohol consumption that occurs during the annual football game between Georgia and Florida.
UF President J. Bernard Machen met with Jacksonville officials after sending a letter requesting less alcohol and more safety during the weekend surrounding the game. The letter, obtained by the Jacksonville Times-Union, states Machen wants a 50 percent reduction in the number of alcohol distribution points and a prohibition of shot sales at The Jacksonville Landing, better enforcement of alcohol sales laws, and more venues students can go.
Three years ago, Machen and University President Michael Adams asked that the term the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” should no longer be used to describe the game. The request was part of Adams’ push to curb on-campus alcohol abuse and change the University’s image as a party school. After the 2005 game a UF student was beaten to death and while the incident was not believed to have been related to the game, it put the city and the game in the spotlight.
There has been talk about trying to bring the game to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome once every four years, as the Bulldogs’ four-year contract to play Florida in Jacksonville is set to expire next year. But there has been no movement on that front. The game has been played annually since 1914 and held in the “neutral” city of Jacksonville since 1933 with the exception of 1994 and 1995.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report/
