The University of Saint Thomas will be able to serve alcohol at several additional locations on its Saint Paul campus with the City Council’s approval of an amended liquor license on January 26. The new locations include the north athletic fields at Cretin and Selby avenues, Palmer Field at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, the new Tommie East and North residence halls, and the new Iverson Center for Faith.
The five new locations were more than some neighbors would have liked. And the 11 conditions placed on the expanded license by a city legislative hearing officer are two more than city staff originally proposed almost a year ago.
City staff had recommended approval of the liquor license conditions that included limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages at outdoor events with more than 150 attendees to six locations on campus. Other conditions require UST to ensure that the consumption of alcohol stays in those service areas, bans the creation of a permanent bar on campus, and requires training for anyone providing alcohol beverages.
The university also must have procedures in place to make sure alcohol is not served to anyone under age 21, and limit liquor sales to between 10 a.m. and midnight.
Neighbors said it is larger events that raise red flags due to the potential for alcohol abuse, trash and nuisance behavior. A few neighbors brought up the university’s recent jump to Division I athletics and questioned whether that would attract larger crowds.
City and university officials review the liquor license each year. No problems at events where liquor has been served in the past have been reported.
The conditions added by city legislative hearing officer Nhia Vang call for UST to position trash receptacles at each exit of events drawing more than 150 people. The university also must control access to and from each service area so no one comes in or leaves with open containers of alcohol.
Five neighbors filed objections to the license expansion, which sent the matter to Vang last November.
The university’s first city liquor license was approved in January 2012. At that time, 15 indoor and three outdoor locations were granted. UST associate vice president of auxiliary services Mitchell Karstens said the expanded locations were sought this year because of the addition of new facilities on campus over the past decade.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, UST had about 250 events each year where alcohol was served. Most of those events involved 50 or fewer people. Around 50 draw 150 people or more. Karstens said that most of those are donor and alumni events.
Neighbors said it is larger events that raise red flags due to the potential for alcohol abuse, trash and nuisance behavior. A few neighbors brought up the university’s recent jump to Division I athletics and questioned whether that would attract larger crowds.
Karstens said Saint Thomas has no plans to expand liquor use at any of the games. Some alcohol is served in VIP areas, but not in the stands.
— Jane McClure
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