Canadian football fans can rejoice! Tailgating is not only allowed but encouraged at Toronto Argonauts games this season. Before you head to the beer aisle and buy the entire supply of Molson and Labatt Blue in preparation for this, you need to know something.
BYOB tailgating is still not allowed in Canada.
That’s not to say that you can’t have a frosty beverage while tailgating a Toronto Argonauts game – it is just going to cost you. You see, you can buy an overpriced and undersized beer from a BMO Field approved vendor, but bringing your own is not allowed. Leave your cooler at home and make sure to bring your wallet. And a good line of credit if you plan on having more than two.
Traditional American style tailgating in Canada has been non-existent due to the heavy restrictions on the consumption of alcohol in outdoor spaces. The Calgary Stampeders fans have tried to bring tailgating to the Canadian Football League but the fans can not overcome the existing laws across the Great White North. It’s not that you can’t have a tailgate party without alcohol. It’s just the fact that the Canadian government views their adult citizens as children that can’t handle the responsibility of consuming alcohol outside the confines of a bar or restaurant.
David Menzies of Rebel Media in Canada explains the hypocrisy of it all in this video rant:
David Menzies’ take on the situation is a bit more critical than the Canadian “mainstream” media. By going by the Canadian newspapers and blogs, you would think Toronto’s first season with tailgating mirrors that of a Buffalo Bills or Green Bay Packers tailgate.
CP24: Tailgating experience a hit with fans despite home opener loss for Argos
Hamilton News: Burgers, beers and beach chairs: Toronto tailgating experience a hit
York Region: Argos fans enjoy the tailgate experience
CBC: Argonauts fans celebrate start of the season with launch of tailgate parties
TSN: Tailgating coast to coast? Here’s hoping
With all that optimism, is Menzies the only critic? Probably not. But you need to keep in mind those dissenting voices may not be getting much publicity because the Canadian people have been lulled into believing their bureaucrats know better than they do.
I’d compare it to Soviet block countries that never knew what freedom and liberty was. If you only know standing in line to buy toilet paper or being pleasantly surprised when you can buy a ration of coffee, you really don’t know what you are missing. Same thing goes for the Canadians and BYOB tailgating. They will take what they can get but unless they have ventured south to an NFL game or even a college game, they don’t know what they are missing.
I would not be surprised if the Toronto Argos fans took in a Buffalo Bills game at Orchard Park, they would start demanding the bureaucrats start changing their laws.
Until the Canadian government wakes up and starts treating it’s adult citizens, well, like adults, they may have to resort to childish behaviors to get around these oppressive laws. We’d suggest checking out these Beer Can Covers for sale or the wide selection of Sneaky Flasks to disguise your hooch while tailgating up north.