Cubs considering curbing beer sales in effort to end rowdiness

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 2:54 a.m.

Rowdy behavior at the ball park became a concern in the wake of a melee last Tuesday between Los Angeles Dodger players and fans. The brawl was sparked by a fan grabbing the cap of Dodger catcher Chad Kreuter.

"We're reviewing whether we have enough people in place to enforce the policies we have," said Cubs vice president Mark McGuire.

Besides increasing security, the team also is looking at imposing a stricter policy against buying several cups of beer at last call.

Beer sales at Wrigley Field are cut off in the eighth inning of day games and in the seventh inning or 9:20 p.m., whichever comes first, during night games.

"We're concerned that when we hit those times that we're getting people stockpiling," McGuire said. "We may take more appropriate measures to reduce that."

The Cubs have already eliminated beer vendors in the bleachers, restricting sales there to concession stands under the bleachers, with a two-beer limit on all purchases. There is a family seating section at Wrigley Field where alcohol sales are prohibited.

Patrons at sports bars around Wrigley Field voiced skepticism about the changes being considered.

"It's not like people aren't drunk by that time anyway," said John Baxter, who describes himself as a lifelong Cubs fan. "It's just them trying to sound like they're doing something. So, next time if a fight happens, do you just not sell beer at all? It makes no sense."