Alcohol in the Clubhouse

[RockRaines]

I thought this would be a decent forum to discuss this issue. Because of the recent death on the Cards, many teams are imposing an alcohol ban in the clubhouse. The White Sox are not one of these teams.

 

What are your thoughts on the issue?

 

 

My personal opinion is that these are men, and taking away alcohol as a means to make them more responsible is downright ridiculous. These guys are old enough to make good decisions. If not, they wouldnt have made a good decision at the bar or at home either. I feel like some of these teams are trying to babysit.

[MHizzle85]

I agree, grown men should know their limit.

[Balta1701]

These folks are adults. They are and should be responsible for their own actions. It's not like this is a high school team.

 

And another question...so what happens in an alcohol free clubhouse when you win a division? Spray grape juice over your teammates?

 

That said...teams should really be ramping up efforts to make sure people do have options. Teams should be providing taxis to take players home if they so desire. They ought to have a specific person the players can call. Make it as easy as humanly possible for them to get a ride. And there should be punishments for DUI from the teams.

[whitesoxfan101]

I don't know what I think of the idea of alcohol in the clubhouse, but I do know that getting rid of it isn't going to stop anybody from driving drunk. Alcohol in the clubhouse had nothing to do with what happened to Josh Hancock, and plus, if somebody is going to be dumb enough to drive drunk they won't need alcohol after the game to do it.

 

And these guys are millionaires, them being able to get home or wherever they are going without having to drive is not the issue. Them being stupid is.

Edited May 11, 2007 by whitesoxfan101

[Y2HH]

For it.

 

Adults making adult decisions. Because one person had to be an idiot, doesn't mean everyone else should have to pay for it. I hate these types of knee-jerk reactions.

[Harry Chappas]

I look at it like this. A couple of beers after a sporting event help to build the comradarie that it takes to be a winner. I think it helps a team to bond and tolerate each other for the balance of the schedule. They all can afford cabs and limos. Pure ignorance gets them in trouble. Banning this is pointless and irrelevant and I like the fact that Guillen took the stance that these are men that should be able to handle themselves. I enjoy softball because I enjoy the cocktails afterward and talking about how bad we are. Without alcohol there would not be the line, "Play some f***ing Journey" and hence maybe not the belief associated with it and Steve Perry gracing the credenza (sp) of a World Series parade.

 

Edited May 11, 2007 by Jenks Heat

[Pants Rowland]

I agree that a most players are grown men physically, but that does not equate to mental maturity. There are a lot of kids in the sub-25/26/27 age range that really haven't learned how to be responsible on many fronts, including drinking. There is a big maturity change that takes place somewhere in the mid-20s and many change their approach to drinking at that point. I am not sure if I agree with a clubhouse ban, however. In fact, alcohol in the clubhouse may be a better way to regulate binge drinking versus guys going and drinking on their own without their teammates around to watch out for them. I am amazed at the perks these guys get, though on top of their salaries. Beer, food spreads, tobacco, etc. I should never have given up on my first career choice when I was 11.

Edited May 11, 2007 by Beltin'Bill

[Kid Gleason]

I just can't get past the fact that the Cubs (and other teams) have banned the booze in the clubhouse, but you can get as blasted as you want in the stands. Obviously these teams don't give a rats booty about their fans. Right?

Edited May 11, 2007 by Kid Gleason

[IlliniKrush]

Why should they be provided as much free alcohol as they want after games? Do you sit at your job all day and at 5pm head to the conference room to knock down some with your coworkers? They can do it on their own time, not at their place of work. I like the message MLB is trying to send, even to the fans...maybe some people will realize drinking 10 beers at a game isn't part of going to a game.

[Kid Gleason]

Why should they be provided as much free alcohol as they want after games? Do you sit at your job all day and at 5pm head to the conference room to knock down some with your coworkers? They can do it on their own time, not at their place of work. I like the message MLB is trying to send, even to the fans...maybe some people will realize drinking 10 beers at a game isn't part of going to a game.

 

 

Ummmm, if I walk over to the fridge here at work...not 15 feet from where I am sitting...there is beer in there. Some of the guys, on fridays, will stay after work for a few to have a beer. It's cheaper than driving to a bar, as many people do. I bet of you go into the fridges at a bunch of companies, you might just find a brew or two in there.

[IlliniKrush]

Ummmm, if I walk over to the fridge here at work...not 15 feet from where I am sitting...there is beer in there. Some of the guys, on fridays, will stay after work for a few to have a beer. It's cheaper than driving to a bar, as many people do. I bet of you go into the fridges at a bunch of companies, you might just find a brew or two in there.

Liability wise, I find that extremely odd.

[Y2HH]

Liability wise, I find that extremely odd.

 

A lot of companies do it.

[NorthSideSox72]

Instead of penalizing everyone and doing nothing to stop DUI's (which is what this would do), maybe the league should have more stringent penalties for criminal behavior off the field. DUI arrest = 50 game suspension, or something like that. I think that would be a lot more effective.

[RockRaines]

Ummmm, if I walk over to the fridge here at work...not 15 feet from where I am sitting...there is beer in there. Some of the guys, on fridays, will stay after work for a few to have a beer. It's cheaper than driving to a bar, as many people do. I bet of you go into the fridges at a bunch of companies, you might just find a brew or two in there.

Yup. We just had beer with our lunch today.

[Soxbadger]

In a lot of professions drinking, clients, etc are part of the job. There are plenty of people out there with corp accounts that they charge alcohol, meals, etc on.

 

Now there are other professions where drinking is off limits, thats not to say people dont bend the rules, its just a case by case basis. In any event we are not discussing drinking and playing, it is after the game has ended. Its more like a corporate picnic, which would almost undoubtedly have some sort of liquor.

 

The difference is no one knows John and Jane Doe who went out and got slammed at the XYZ corp picnic and then got killed on the highway.

[Drew]

I agree.

 

It's sad that someone paid with their life making a poor decision that more people have made than would care to admit. But I'm fairly confident that over 90% of professional working men in this country know their limit and consume alcohol responsibly.

 

Punishing the many for the sake of the one is something that a high school Dean would do. If you want to make an example out of someone, do it on the Furcals and Freels of the world and let the responsible majority be.

[RockRaines]

The thing is that he didnt get wasted in the clubhouse, he went out to a bar and got drunk before he decided to hit the road on his cellphone while smoking weed.

[Balance]

The clubhouse alcohol bans seem to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Hancock incident. As has been mentioned above, his death had nothing to do with alcohol in the clubhouse. The players themselves need to make sure that they don't drink and drive. It's probably a good idea if the teams provide limos/cabs/town cars for players who have consumed too much. But it's not necessary to ban clubhouse alcohol.

[Wanne]

The clubhouse alcohol bans seem to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Hancock incident. As has been mentioned above, his death had nothing to do with alcohol in the clubhouse. The players themselves need to make sure that they don't drink and drive. It's probably a good idea if the teams provide limos/cabs/town cars for players who have consumed too much. But it's not necessary to ban clubhouse alcohol.

 

Exactly the case. I really just think it's more of an "image" decision as well as covering their asses in terms of liability.

[SleepyWhiteSox]

Now I'm curious to see how many people have alcohol at their job readily available every day...

[NorthSideSox72]

Now I'm curious to see how many people have alcohol at their job readily available every day...

Start a poll.

 

My last company used to, occasionally. That stopped at some point though, when HR decided it was too much risk.

[Kid Gleason]

I think alcohol should be readily available everywhere...including schools.

[ChWRoCk2]

I think alcohol should be readily available everywhere...including schools.

[Balance]

Now I'm curious to see how many people have alcohol at their job readily available every day...

Dude, I'm half in the bag already!!!

 

Well, after 5PM I will be....

[RockRaines]

We have it available at work. IN fact our quarterly meetings are held at all of our locations and we all drink in the office at about 3pm. Some fridays we start drinking with lunch.