San Francisco won't impose Super Bowl alcohol ban to prevent rioting

• Tweet

San Franciscans may want to think carefully about whether they watch their beloved 49ers take on the Baltimore Ravens at a bar or from the comfort of their living room couches this year.

Yes, the Super Bowl is about football, but for everybody except the guys on the field and the lucky few that will be in the stadium in New Orleans on February 3, game day will also just as much rooting on the hometown team with friends.

Now San Fran Mayor Ed Lee is recommending bars and restaurants will limit hard liquor sales during and after the Super Bowl game, in the hopes that keeping a lid on heavier drinking could help prevent rioting--win or lose.

Lee's concern is a legitimate one: after the San Francisco Giants won the World Series back in October, when riots broke out after the team clinched the title after just four games.

Rather than watching the game in New Orleans, Lee said he planned to stay behind to oversee any post-game response, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. He and Police Chief Greg Suhr also visit the neighborhoods hit during the World Series riots, as well as those impacted by Occupy protests to suggest they limit the hard alcohol sales.

A spokeswoman for City Hall emphasized that no ban would be imposed on the city.

"He's just suggesting that business owners serve responsibly, and most businesses do," said spokeswoman Christine Falvey.

While the owners of those establishments say they understand the logic behind the mayor's recommendation, they're also concerned about losing a big profit night.