Spring Break
Alcohol ban lifted for music festival
By: Jessica McCann
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: News
While Northgate Music Festival fans enjoyed the music at the main stage on the promenade, they were also able to enjoy something usually prohibited in that area - a cold beer. This month marks the second anniversary of a College Station ordinance banning open containers and alcohol consumption outside establishments in the Northgate district, but a special exception for events permitted open containers purchased within the designated area around the main stage this weekend, police officials said.
"The provision allows for certain events to offer alcohol to patrons," said Scott McCollum, assistant chief of the College Station Police Department. "The person would have to rope off and designate an area for serving alcohol, obtain a temporary Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license and provide security for the event."
Most of the festival stages inside Northgate bars were unaffected by the ban, but festival-goers wanting to see Sister Hazel, Ingram Hill and Flickerstick on the main stage had to stay within the roped-off drinking area. Police officers patrolled the scene, but actual security of the festival was maintained by the Brazos Valley Sheriff's Office.
"We find that the music festival has been great, and it's just business as usual for us," said Lt. Mark Langwell, public information officer of the College Station Police Department. "Our only concern is controlling pedestrian traffic on College Main."
Sheriff's deputies and TABC officials were on hand to deal with violations, said Chief Deputy Jim Mann.
"Our guys sign up for the festival as an off-duty assignment," Mann said. "I don't recall any significant issues."
But the 2-year-old outdoor drinking ban remains a conflict with students and business owners.
"The ban actually hurt Northgate," said Jamie Scott, a senior poultry science major. "I disagreed with the ban when they first considered it and actually went to the council meetings to protest. The crowd management reasoning for it was unfounded, since now it's too crowded inside the bars."
"The provision allows for certain events to offer alcohol to patrons," said Scott McCollum, assistant chief of the College Station Police Department. "The person would have to rope off and designate an area for serving alcohol, obtain a temporary Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license and provide security for the event."
Most of the festival stages inside Northgate bars were unaffected by the ban, but festival-goers wanting to see Sister Hazel, Ingram Hill and Flickerstick on the main stage had to stay within the roped-off drinking area. Police officers patrolled the scene, but actual security of the festival was maintained by the Brazos Valley Sheriff's Office.
"We find that the music festival has been great, and it's just business as usual for us," said Lt. Mark Langwell, public information officer of the College Station Police Department. "Our only concern is controlling pedestrian traffic on College Main."
Sheriff's deputies and TABC officials were on hand to deal with violations, said Chief Deputy Jim Mann.
"Our guys sign up for the festival as an off-duty assignment," Mann said. "I don't recall any significant issues."
But the 2-year-old outdoor drinking ban remains a conflict with students and business owners.
"The ban actually hurt Northgate," said Jamie Scott, a senior poultry science major. "I disagreed with the ban when they first considered it and actually went to the council meetings to protest. The crowd management reasoning for it was unfounded, since now it's too crowded inside the bars."
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com