Scarcity of booze helped Obama rally flow
Eric Zorn
November 6, 2008
The massive yet genial presence of the Chicago Police Department on Tuesday night in Grant Park and downtown is certainly part of the reason we didn't see any victory riots from delirious Obama supporters.
But I give most of the credit to sobriety. In walking among the mobs to and from the Blue Line station at Jackson Street and up and down Michigan Avenue, I didn't see one person drinking alcohol or exhibiting the classic signs of drunkenness.
Nothing against boozing. But it tends to turn happy people into stupid people; joyous revelers into cheerful vandals.
It was illegal to bring alcohol into the designated gathering areas in the park, vendors did not sell alcohol and it was a school night, for goodness' sake. So though I'm sure more than a few celebrators raised a glass or two to toast the president-elect, the rally was basically a dry and therefore peaceful event.
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