Cleveland Browns: How smart is the Victory Fridge free beer promotion? Is it even legal?

Cleveland Browns fans are being offered free beer via the Victory Fridge promotion from Bud Light, but is it actually going to work as intended, and is it even legal?

The intention is that if and when the Cleveland Browns win another game, then Anheuser-Busch intends to help celebrate by offering free Bud Light to fans. The beer is currently locked away in special high-tech “Victory Fridges” in FirstEnergy Stadium as well as in several Browns bars in Ohio.

The high tech lock only opens upon an electronic command to be issued by the brewer upon confirmation of the Browns’ first win, if it should happen in the 2018 season.

In theory, the lock is considered impenetrable without the electronic signal. However, if given the opportunity to bet on an irate Browns fan with a crowbar, you should definitely bet on the crowbar.

Dawg Pound Daily caught up with Matt Baker, owner of Tuty’s Bar and Grill in Beavercreek Ohio, which is also the headquarters for the Beavercreek Browns Backers.

Although due to legal restrictions, Anheiser-Busch is reluctant to confirm the identities of the various bars that they are supplying with Victory Fridges, Baker confirmed that Tuty’s will be included among the locations for the Victory Fridges. Rumor has it that Tuty’s is so far the only location outside of Greater Cleveland supplied with one.

A nagging question is whether any of this is actually legal in the State of Ohio.  Although Mr. Baker is not an attorney, he’s necessarily aware of the rules and conditions as the holder of an Ohio liquor license.

As such, establishments with an Ohio liquor license are required to do such things as check identifications, and not serve underage customers. However,  another condition of the Liquor License is that beer may not be given away free. The law (Ohio Revised Code 4301.22) reads:

"“No holder of a permit shall give away any beer or intoxicating liquor of any kind at any time in connection with the permit holder’s business.”  — Ohio Revised Code 4301.22"

There are exceptions made; for example, it is permitted to give away two-ounce samples of beer for taste testing purposed.

Hence the details are still being worked out between the bars, Anheuser-Busch, and the state authorities. For example, it has been suggested that there might be a fee involved after all, but one that would support a Browns-related charity, and the patrons may have to sign up in advance.

It would be so Browns-like if the promotion turns out to have legal issues so that all the participants wind up in trouble with the authorities.  It almost sounds like a Steelers plot, to throw the most active Browns Bars into disarray.

But even assuming that the legalities are resolved, how is this going to actually work out? Plan A is that Browns fans will politely form a nice, orderly queue, comprehend the limitations of the free beer offer so that one at a time they will be handed a free can of beer to sip quietly with their friends.

That’s plausible for the Browns bars, but is that going to work in FirstEnergy Stadium?

Plan B is that this is going to be like Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders storming San Juan Hill.  It could get crazy, especially at FirstEnergy Stadium!    After all, it’s the Cleveland Browns.  WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?!  We may find out September 9 if the Browns dispatch the Steelers.