[amusedofficial]

There should be no booze on the breath, let alone drunkenness, by an official at a kid's game and it should not knowingly be tolerated by anyone who is serving as an official at a kid's game. The stakes are too high and the standard of nontolerance is too well established. Team members involved with alcohol face being kicked off the team, and that is an educational stand taken by institutions and leagues. The only reason we are there is to further the educaational programs of the institutions involved. NO we're not teachers. But we are placed in a position of responsibility and authority involving minors.

We owe it to the institutions for which we do these games not to violate that precept.

That's the easy part. The hard part, as it is in any honor system, is to enforce it. We are paid to make judgment calls in games, but not to impose moral judgment on co-workers. Involvement with alcohol by someone in authority at a kid's event is a grave offense.

Maybe boards ought to establish a protocol in which officials know going in that other officials have an obligation to speak up if there is a substance abuse issue.

And for Pete's sake, if you have a beer at lunch grab a tin of Altoids.