Peanuts and Cracker Jacks
This is the first I have heard of the “peanut-free” zones featured at several MLB games. Evidently this phenomenon is sweeping the MLB as the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals have featured special sections at their games for those with peanut allergies.
Vendors are not allowed to sell peanuts in this section, and those who sit there are not allowed to bring peanuts into them, for fear of someone asphyxiating due to the aroma alone.
Supposedly there are only 12 million Americans with food allergies. So that means that approximately 4% of the population of the US have food allergies (not necessarily peanut allergies).
Does anyone else see this as a little ridiculous?
You gotta buy some peanuts and cracker jacks. IT’S BASEBALL FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD!
Want to impress me MLB? How about making “alcohol-free” zones in your parks, so that alcoholics can sit and not be tempted by beer sales and those drinking beer? With 10.8 million underage drinkers in the US, and 14 million alcoholics, you’d think that it would be a more worthwhile endeavor.
Of course, I don’t think Anheuser Busch would allow that. Heh.
on July 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Umm, every major league baseball park I have ever been to (at least a dozen at last count) has alcohol free zones. Indeed, in most of those parks, the alcohol free zone is the bleachers, a.k.a. the cheap seats, which is where one generally used to find alcohol induced idiocy. And every park stops serving beer in the 7th inning (even if the game goes 20+ innings as a couple have this year).
Yeah, the peanut free zone is kind of stupid, but I think you’ve just undermined your own sense of outrage here…
on July 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I did not know that. The last MLB game I went to was a Cardinals game 4 years ago. I don’t recall that being the case then, thus my suggestion.
Living in West Tennessee the closest we get to the majors is the Memphis Redbirds, the AAA affiliate of the Cardinals. At AutoZone Park, as most baseball parks, they cut off beer sales at the bottom of the 7th. However, beer is sold and permitted in all sections (even the “bluff” which is nothing but a grassy area in which to sit/stand).
My commentary from local experience. Guess it’s time for me to take a trip to St. Louis.
on August 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I have heard about this from a few places. Personally, I think it is on the right track, the market is deciding. If enough people with peanut allergies use the section, the teams will keep it, if not, I suspect they will not be around for long. So long as the government doesn’t start mandating peanut free zones, I am quite alright with the market deciding if and where to create them.