Fenway Park concession workers are looking to strike out grab-and-go beer coolers and self-checkout kiosks due to rowdy fan behavior, but the Red Sox say they haven’t received any violation notices.
Members of UNITE HERE Local 26 are making their plea to state lawmakers that alcoholic beverages should only be sold under the direct supervision of ballpark employees, eliminating self-serve stations.
Union members argue that bills pending at the State House would go a long way in addressing issues that have arisen since the introduction of self-serve stations in 2018, by ensuring that alcohol is not accessible to fans before purchase from an employee.
“Grab-and-go beer coolers with self-checkout machines would not be permitted at bars,” Union President Carlos Aramayo said on Wednesday. “So, why are they permitted at large venues?”
Aramayo and concession workers made their pitch to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure. Their testimony came amid a months-long labor dispute with concession giant Aramark.
State lawmakers are considering a ban on grab-and-go alcoholic beverage stands at venues used for sporting events, contests, shows, or other forms of entertainment that have an occupancy of over 4,900.
That would mean fans would only be allowed access to beer, wine, cocktails, or other beverages if a venue employee has direct conduct and supervision of the transaction.
David Friedman, executive vice president of legal governmental affairs and chief compliance officer for the Red Sox, pointed out how workers supervise the self-checkout stands. He added that there are just six such stands inside Fenway, with Aramark concession workers processing transactions at the others.
A third-party security team also helps oversee the stands, Friedman said. Since the introduction, the franchise has seen a “successful record” with the amenity, including cutting the time to complete transactions by nearly half.
“Out of 3 million people, there may be a few problems,” Friedman said, “but over time, we have really tried to do our best to make sure people are not overserved.”
Union bartenders and beer sellers said in a survey that they often see fans walk away with unopened alcoholic beverages at self-checkout stands. Some 42% of respondents said they’ve also seen customers who appear either underage buying alcohol or “inebriated.”
Laura Moffatt, who has worked at Fenway for 18 years, the past eight as a certified beer seller, highlighted one instance in which two fans purchased beer from a grab-and-go station 40 minutes before alcohol service was scheduled to begin before a game this season, never interacting with security.
“As a teacher,” Moffatt said, “I can’t help but wonder what we’re teaching our kids.”
The Red Sox partner with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Committee and Boston Licensing Board to ensure compliance, with the outside parties regularly conducting site visits during large-scale events, according to Claire Durant, the franchise’s director of business and government affairs.
She told lawmakers that she wasn’t aware of any violation notices related to the self-checkout stations or of any state or municipality in the United States that has restrictions on such stations for alcohol purchases at entertainment venues.
“This is an open invitation to come visit Fenway Park,” Durant said, “hopefully in the ALDS, to come see for yourself how all of these operations work. We are always here and have nothing to hide.”