Liquor Licensees Urged to Serve Responsibly This Super Bowl Sunday

Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-335-LARA (5272)
Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov

January 30, 2020 - As football fans are expected to pack bars and restaurants this Super Bowl Sunday for America’s most-watched national sporting event, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) reminds its 19,000 liquor licensees to serve patrons responsibly. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous days to be out on Michigan roads due to impaired drivers. 

“Super Bowl Sunday has become one of the biggest drinking days of the year,” said MLCC Chair Pat Gagliardi. “Licensees have the responsibility to keep control of rowdy crowds in their establishments on game day, ensure that they do not overserve patrons and serve only to those of legal drinking age.”

MLCC offers the following tips to licensees, fans, and party hosts to help ensure a safe Super Bowl Sunday. 

Tips for liquor licensees:

• Check ID to verify a patron’s age is 21 years or older before selling or serving alcohol to them.
• Serve responsibly to ensure that no one becomes intoxicated in your business.
• Intoxicated individuals who enter your establishment are not allowed to purchase or consume alcohol.
• Avoid overcrowding that can lead to altercations and obstructed exits which are safety and fire hazards.
• Maintain order and control of the premises through constant observance of customers and situations.

Tips for fans:

• If your night involves alcohol, arrange for a designated driver or other safe way home before going to the bar or party.
• Never let friends drive if they’ve had too much to drink.
• Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
• Walking impaired is also dangerous. Designate a sober friend to walk home with you.

Tips for party hosts:

• Be a responsible host – limit your alcohol intake so you can monitor guest safety.
• Arrange or encourage guests to designate sober drivers in advance of the party.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages as an option.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter and begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Take the keys away from guests who shouldn’t be driving.
• Do not serve alcohol to minors. Remember you can be held liable for any damage, injury, or death caused by the underage driver.

“Have a great time this weekend rooting for your favorite team, but never put yourself or others at risk because you made a bad choice to drink and drive,” said Gagliardi. “Impaired driving is a serious problem with serious consequences. Even one drink can impair judgement.”

MLCC joins with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign to encourage people to make plans ahead of the game that will prevent them from drinking and driving. 

Super Bowl Sunday has long been associated with over consumption of alcohol. Mothers against Drunk Driving statistics show that an average of Super Bowl Sundays see a 55.4 percent increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities nationally, over other days of the year. Super Bowl Sunday is second only to New Year's Eve as the deadliest alcohol-related traffic accident day of the year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

It is the mission of MLCC to make alcoholic beverages available for consumption while protecting the consumer and the general public through regulation of those involved in the importation, sale, consumption, distribution, and delivery of these alcohol beverage products.