LINCOLN (AP) — Beer pong and other drinking games would be banned under a proposal being considered by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.
The commission has targeted games that encourage people to down too much beer, wine or liquor, making them drunk and dangerous on the road.
Hobert Rupe, the commission's executive director, said Monday that games and promotions under scrutiny are sponsored by the bar or suppliers.
Rupe told television station KOLN/KGIN that the drinking promotions "encourage overintoxication, which has a societal risk, a societal harm."
"The problem with a lot of these games is if you're drinking a lot of alcohol rapidly, in a short amount of time, you're not going to realize you're at that state until it's too late," Rupe said.
At the Fat Toad Bar in Lincoln, customer Nick Doher said he goes to the bar to play in the beer pong tournament, not to drink.
And the owner of the bar, Josh Root, said "it's not in anybody's interest to get really drunk when they're trying to win $200" in a game.
On Monday, Rupe told The Associated Press that some people have thanked the commission for taking a look at the issue.
"We've also heard that we are being a nanny state," Rupe said.
The commission had a public hearing a month ago, Rupe said, and on Sunday it ended 30 days of public comment. The proposal was placed on the commission agenda for Wednesday's meeting.
If commissioners were to approve the proposal, it would go to the Attorney General's Office so the language could be vetted and to Gov. Dave Heineman for a final decision.
If the governor were to approve the measure, Rupe said, violations could jeopardize a bar's license.
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