Lincoln City Council approves alcohol sales at Nebraska basketball games

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The alcohol will flow at Husker basketball games this season.

The Lincoln City Council voted on Monday night to authorize the sale of beer, wine and liquor at Nebraska games at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The council wasn’t supposed to vote on the measure on Monday. Ordinances typically go through three readings, and this was only the second reading.

But the council unanimously voted to suspend its rules and approve the resolution so that Husker fans can enjoy a cold one as soon as possible. The men’s basketball team plays Chadron State in an exhibition game on Sunday.

Two people testified against the ordinance, raising concerns about the effect it will have on mental health and public safety.

“There are over 1,500 deaths every year among college-aged youth due to alcohol,” said Chris Wagner of Project Extra Mile, a coalition working to reduce alcohol-related harms in Nebraska. “There’s over 700,000 assaults, and 20% of women that are sexually assaulted indicate that alcohol was a part of that sexual assault.”

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents gave its approval to the two-year pilot program in September.

Ninety percent of the revenue from alcohol sales will go to the city. Ten percent will go to the university.