BLOOMINGTON - When a cup of beer costs $5.75 at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, heavy alcohol consumption is rare among drinkers watching a concert or a game. | Interactive graphic: Coliseum attendance, revenue, events

However, incidents of drunken, disruptive behavior do happen.

Responding to questions about drunken behavior at the recent Alan Jackson concert, Coliseum spokeswoman Melissa Ash said most events routinely have one or two people who are asked to leave because of such problems. She added the Coliseum's number of such incidents is lower than most venues of a similar size.

Concession workers are trained to identify someone who has had too much to drink and to not serve them to avoid most problems, Ash said.

When someone gets too rowdy in the stands, Coliseum ushers or concession workers ask staff from the private security contractors or a Bloomington police officer to step in and handle the situation.

"We've had a few incidents," said Bloomington police spokesman Dave White.

White, an officer who works some events at the Coliseum, said most people are cooperative.

"When we ask them to leave we are trying to catch a situation early so we can keep it from escalating," White said. "We don't want the person to hurt themselves or others."

Ash said people looking to avoid the drinking crowd at the Coliseum can ask for tickets in Section 115, the family section where alcoholic drinks are not permitted. Ash said that section is available for most events, but it cannot be set aside for concerts because of the seating configuration needed for that kind of event.

Also, the sale of alcohol stops an hour before the end of events to reduce the likelihood of problems, said the Coliseum's food and beverage general manager, Paul Grazer

The city-owned Coliseum holds a liquor license that allows for the sale of all types of alcohol. So does the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

So far, staff members at the performing arts center have not had to ask someone to leave during a concert or performance at that city-owned venue, said BCPA spokesman Joel Aalberts.

Alcoholic drinks are available before a performance and at intermission, but no drinks are allowed into the performing arts center's theater. The limited availability also limits consumption, Aalberts added.

Aalberts said the staff does encounter disorderly conduct by people drinking at wedding receptions held in the ballroom of the performing arts center. On those occasions, the intoxicated person is asked to leave.