

There are other sports that penalise the offending fans’ team for fan misbehaviour, delays to game, etc. Lacrosse, and soccer, do at least. It’s an effective way to get fans to settle down when their actions cost their team possession, a penalty shot, etc. So maybe don’t remove the team, but I don’t see why they can’t do something similar.

100%. And if we’re actually trying to keep these folks from relapsing we need additional supports past the acute detox stage. Additional essential care (low cost/free food, clothing, health insurance, etc.) mental health supports, OT supports because adulting is fucking hard, and social supports.
In my area, we’ve lost a huge number of our free/low cost third spaces, which isolates the folks who need that social safety net the most. It also means the spaces available that don’t involve alcohol, which can be a gateway back to other substances, are dwindling.
Anyway, we can’t just release people into the world and go “you’re cured!” There’s a reason they turned to substance use in the first place.