This Saturday was the traditional Rocky Mountain Showdown between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. Like in the past, the alcohol-fueled football rivalry was held at Invesco Field in Denver, and -- also like in the past -- alcohol led to some serious mayhem before, during, and after the game. Once again, we tried to warn people about the problems that were bound to occur if alcohol was the only drug allowed (and marijuana was specifically banned), and once again our warning fell on deaf ears. 

As NBC 9 reported:

Denver Police say stadium medical crews were called to more than 125 alcohol-related incidents. Ambulance crews took 14 people to the hospital for alcohol-related issues; 46 people went to detox. Police say 12 people were arrested and 6 were given a summons to appear in court.

Police say one person at the game assaulted an officer in his chest. The officer did not have to be taken to the hospital.

One officer on horseback injured his knee after a horse bucked him off. 

Last year, we called on Denver, CU and CSU officials to place a moratorium on marijuana citations during the event so that fans would not be discouraged from making the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol prior to and after the game. Of course we were ignored by the city and college officials, and all hell broke loose. In particular, a pseudo-riot broke out after police began to be pelted with beer bottles, sparking them to use pepper spray, rubber bullets, and tear gas.  Ultimately, there were 26 arrests, 38 sent to detox for being too drunk, and 52 ejected from the game.

Below is the release from SAFER just days before this year's game:

NEWS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release -- August 30, 2007

CU, CSU, and Denver Brace for Alcohol-Fueled Football Game at Invesco Field

Officials' message to students: Don’t use marijuana under any circumstances, but it's OK to drink as long as you're "classy"

DENVER – Colorado-based nonprofit Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is warning Denver officials, the University of Colorado, and Colorado State University about the potential for violent behavior and dangerous drinking at the traditionally alcohol-fueled Rocky Mountain Showdown this weekend at Invesco Field in Denver.

"Excessive drinking is one of the main causes behind assaults at the football games," said CU Police Department spokesman Brad Wiesley in a story that appeared today in CU's student newspaper, The Campus Press.

According to The Campus Press, CU has initiated a program called "Competing with Class," in which they encourage students and fans to remain civil during the event.

Despite similar efforts in the past, a small riot broke out at last year's game after drunk students began pelting police with beer bottles, leading to police in riot gear using pepper spray, rubber bullets and tear gas to subdue the crowd. Ultimately, 52 individuals were ejected from the game, 38 were sent to detox for severe alcohol intoxication, 26 were arrested, and virtually every attendee was drinking in public before the game. Yet Denver police issued only five citations during the entire event.

It was just three years ago this week that CSU student Samantha Spady died of an acute alcohol overdose after consuming alcohol before, during and after the traditional CU-CSU game.
 
"Despite alcohol use contributing to consistent problems at this Denver event, officials continue to push fans and students to drink, and threaten to arrest anyone who might make safer choice to use marijuana instead," said SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. "Perhaps this is the result of CU and the City of Denver's partnerships with Coors Brewing and their vested financial interests in keeping the Coors taps flowing, regardless of what problems might result."

CU has maintained a close relationship with Coors for years (there is a Coors Center on campus), and the Denver City Council gave approval to renewing its partnership with the beer superpower at its meeting last Monday.

"CU and the City of Denver are taking drug money in exchange for pushing a drug that is far more harmful than marijuana," Tvert said. "Their hypocrisy is duly noted, and it is hoped this event will go off without any serious alcohol-related problems. But if such problems do arise, CU and Denver officials should be held responsible for their role in promoting such alcohol use while prohibiting the use of a less harmful substance that city residents voted to make legal in 2005.”

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