Alcohol sales at college football games are growing across the United States. In the past two seasons alone, 23 Division I-A schools have implemented alcohol sales in their stadiums. Alcohol sales may be a boon for attendance and revenues, yet potential spillovers to crime deserve consideration. Selling alcohol during the game could increase crime by increasing alcohol consumption. Alternatively, crime may decrease by changing the timing and venue of consumption. Analysis using daily-level data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System, over the 2005 to 2016 period for 78 law enforcement agencies serving 44 Division I-A schools, as well as an improved empirical specification, suggest that alcohol sales have little impact on game day violent crime. Impacts of alcohol sales are limited to a modest increase in arrests for DUI on home game days.
