The City of Champaign announced new liquor sale restrictions on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Final Four game between Illinois and UConn.
An emergency order will prohibit businesses in the defined area on campus from serving alcoholic beverages in glass containers between 3 p.m. on Saturday and 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, businesses can’t sell packaged liquor and cocktails-to-go. The delivery of alcohol in and out of the defined area during this time is also banned.
“The restrictions on the sale of packaged alcohol and serving alcohol in glass containers are aimed at reducing the availability of glass bottles and glassware that could become dangerous projectiles or pose serious safety risks if broken in a crowded area,” read the City of Champaign’s press release.
The order also created guidelines for Monday, should Illinois advance to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game.
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In this case, businesses will be prohibited from serving alcohol in glass containers between 5:30 p.m. on Monday and 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The sale of packaged liquor and cocktails-to-go, as well as the delivery of alcohol in and out of the defined area, would be barred between 9 p.m. on Monday and midnight on Tuesday.
“We understand that these restrictions may inconvenience some of our residents and local businesses, but they are being taken at the request of local law enforcement to help ensure public safety during large post-game celebrations,” said Deputy Liquor Commissioner Jeff Hamilton in the press release. “After hearing from local business owners and consulting with our law enforcement partners, we were able to make some changes for this weekend that will still ensure public safety while reducing the impact on our valued local businesses.”
