Hypocrisy in the NFL's Stance on Drinking

Every time you watch to an NFL game, whether at the stadium or on TV, you will be encouraged to drink beer. Every other commercial is either some frog telling you to grab one brand of brew-ski or another beer that gives you magic powers or a supermodel that tells you got to drink her beer if you want to get laid. The NFL has made a lot of money off the fact that watching football and drinking go together like MJ and Scottie.

In 2005 the Molson Coors Brewing Company, which make such classics as Coors Light and Keystone Light, signed a deal to be the official brewing company of the NFL. This is a deal that pays the NFL $500 million over the course of 5 years. Plain and simple the NFL loves that you drink and all they have to do is tell you which brand is best.

However, the NFL just released a new Fan Code of Conduct for the 2008 season. Usually things like this are pretty standard, they say don't be a jackass. However this statement, which came out on Tuesday, had a new little twist to it. The first rule states that fans must refrain from "Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature." This is very understandable but then it goes on to say that the NFL will not tolerate, "Drunkeness, intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behavior."

This got me thinking, when has drinking EVER lead to responsible behavior? The act of drinking something that could make you intoxicated by definition is irresponsible. If you have are already going to say that you will get punished for unruly behavior, why is the statement about drinking necessary?!? If the NFL profits so much from things alchohol related,(on-top of sponsorship dollars, you're talking about impulse-buys like memorabilia and drunk-munchies) why even bring it up? The league is acting hypocritically when sending it's messages on drinking. Goodell was probably drunk when he came up with the code of conduct itself.