Could the NFL survive without beer? - Ingles

Imagine there's no Bud Light.

It isn't hard to do.

No more Coors or Fosters.

And no more fistfights, too. …

We're just dreaming, of course. The NFL halting beer sales at stadiums to keep fans sober is like asking the league to figuratively cut off its right arm.

The NFL will start giving kickers two tries on field-goal attempts before it stops selling beer.

Beer companies will make certain of it. Anheuser-Busch takes over as the NFL's official beer sponsor this season with a six-year, $1.2 billion contract. Expect to be blitzed by new Bud Light commercials on opening night.

Teams also can work out beer sponsorships of their own with any company.

While NFL owners like the 49ers' Jed York insist they'll go to any lengths to keep fans safe at their stadiums, they won't stop selling beer or keep their fans from drinking during pregame tailgate parties.

It's understood that most fans who drink don't start trouble. Why should they be victims?

But could the NFL survive without beer sales? Could adult fans survive a three-hour game without drinking?

You want to find out who the real football fans are? Put the kegs away and keep the hard stuff to cherry cola.

And just imagine more kids and families coming to games.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. This article was written by Victor Contreras and appeared in The Sacramento Bee.