Banning game-time drinking: An analysis of pre-hospital emergencies at a large NCAA division 1 football stadium

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a game-time drinking ban implemented during the 2006 football season, at a large NCAA Division I stadium, on reducing game day alcohol related pre-hospital emergencies. METHODS: Data from the football dispatch and patient event logs were used to determine the variables that affect the volume of medical incidents during game day and to quantify the effect of the ban. Descriptive statistics were determined and independent sample t-tests were used. RESULTS: Home football games from nine seasons (2000 to 2008) were included. A total of 61 regular season home games occurred during this time, with an average attendance of 105,408 fans. Total patients evaluated per game ranged from 10 to 122, with an average of 28 emergency medical services dispatches per game. Patient totals by season increased 2.6 times between 2000 and 2008 from 167 to 435. Alcohol was responsible for the highest percentage of incidents, accounting for 16.3% of calls. Attendance and game start time were both found to have significant positive associations with total patient numbers (p≤0.05). Mean number of patients, number of alcohol related dispatches, and transports were significantly higher following the implementation of the game time drinking ban (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this analysis, the game time drinking ban does not appear to have reduced medical or alcohol related incidents, demonstrating the need for a different approach. Results from this study can be used to develop strategies to reduce alcohol related game day pre-hospital incidents.