Rams Will Try Compromise on Size of Beers in Stadium

Rather than appear to be gouging customers, the Rams will increase the size of a $4 beer from 16 to 18 ounces at Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at Anaheim Stadium, a Ram spokesman said Thursday.

In an attempt to curtail beer consumption and resulting rowdy behavior, Anaheim Stadium and club management decided two weeks ago to stop selling 22-ounce beers for $4 and to sell 16-ounce helpings for the same price.

The tactic stemmed from concern about increasing disruptions in the stands and came in the wake of the beating of a fan at the Coliseum.

After reducing the size of beers at Anaheim Stadium for the Oct. 14 Rams-Cincinnati Bengals game, there were fewer crowd problems and no arrests for fighting, police reported.

But Dick Beam, Ram director of operations, said Thursday there have been complaints about charging the same price for smaller beers.

“We don’t want to present an image of gouging people,” Beam said.

Stadium officials still intend to open the parking lot at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. in order to reduce alcohol consumption at pregame tailgate parties. But, Beam said, if traffic begins to back up on public streets, the gates may be opened earlier.

Although there were telephone calls and letters complaining of the $4 price for smaller beers, Beam said: “We got almost as many positive responses.”