In case you don't know Budweiser and FIFA are pushing alcohol sales in the stands during World Cup in Brazil. Brazil does not allow alcohol sales there for many a good reason and now because of greed are being forced to give in to a dangerous precedent. When you’ve said Budweiser, you've said it all. Say it to Budweiser corporate on Park Avenue.... 1 212-573-8800 a free call on most cell phones. Thanks
First of all, there was no good reason whatsoever to disallow alcohol in Brazilian stadia. The result was worse than what we had before, since the surrounding areas now are full of drunk people that only enter the stadium when the game is about to start. Violence did not went down, as well. Finally, a World Cup match is a complete different experience. Even if they were right on the alcohol prohibition, which they are not, the assumption is not valid to the WC. The problem is simply not there. There is a lot of childish (adolescent?!) behaviour from the part of Brazilian authorities, pushing for small "victories" over things FIFA requests.
I agree. World Cup matches are attended by middle to upper class tourists. The chances of violence erupting during a WC match is essentially nil, with or without alcohol.
If you also consider the fact that the beer will be overpriced and that Budweiser sucks to begin with, it don't see too many people getting wasted in the stadium. The real problem with the World Cup sponsorships/concessions/souvenir is that it is completely business based, meaning that smaller local companies don't stand a chance against the international juggernauts like Budweiser. It kind of sucks because it destroys the local flavor. I lost a lot of affinity for the World Cup when for Germany 2006 Budweiser was the beer sponsor. That makes no sense in a country with such a strong local beer tradition. It would have been awesome to get Munich based beers in Munich, Koelsch in Cologne, Berliner Weisse in Berlin, ...
Issues like these bring up yet more troubling issues involving with the awarding of the 2014 Cup. The FIFA Executive Committee did none of the vetting of bid conditions for Brazil that it did for 2018 and 2022, nor indeed for 2002, 2006 and 2010 either. Because of continental rotation and Brazil being the only bid the FIFA Executive Committee failed to vet the bid's technical requirements to see that they were up to FIFA standards for things like exclusivity of sponsorship zones. Is it really surprising given what a sham the 18/22 bid process was that the FIFA Executive Committee also didn't do their job in regards to making sure the Brazil bid met the minimum requirements beforehand?
I'm suprised that an Argentinian is saying that.. HUA (Hinchadas Unidas Argentinas) went to South Africa, what makes you think they aren't going to go to Brazil?
Well, it's better than not having any beer at all on a hot afternoon. Besides, Budweiser is no worse than other widely produced international beers like Brahma, Heineken, Beck's, Peroni, Quilmes etc. They all have similar levels of alcohol and taste about the same When talking about millions of people traveling for a sporting event, of course there are a few exceptions/people trying to spoil the overall good atmosphere. But the numbers are so small, that even an organized group like Hinchadas Unidas Argentinas barely made a mark on the event as a whole.
BarraUru: Si el Bostero tiene razon, mangia mierd@! Que bolud0 que sos! There has been beer served at the last 3 WCs that i'm aware of, and any significant trouble which occurred at those happened outside of the stadia, more specifically at the fan zones, which might as well be octagon shaped in Brassssssiao. But, that's the cops' problem, and they will undoubtedly be very heavy handed with trouble (they should), especially from all those bad news Uruguayans and Brasileros. Siempre haciendo problemas para los demas ...
My exact sentiments about stuff like that! Why on earth should a mega corporation headquartered in St. Louis, MO be the product of choice at a tournament held thousands of miles away at a completely different country with a completely different culture?!?!? Shouldn't that be the kind of contract you allocate to the hosting cities' local councils to pass down to small businesses? Just the way I c it, but then again, maybe my bias against mega corporations has the better of my view on such issues.
Budweiser does NOT sell alcohol. They sell refrigerated cat piss, marketed as beer. Only stupid Americans think it is beer. So Budweiser won't be violating Brazil's stadium alcohol prohibition laws.
meh... Budweiser has the same alcohol content as a premium Bavarian WeissBier and that's what matters most. I totally agree with snahdog. The whole point of traveling is to experience different cultures and people. That includes their drinks and food. It's just shameless on FIFA's part to force-feed us stuff that has nothing to do with the place we're visiting.
There was just a war between ARG and GB a couple of years before. In 2002, there was an ENG-ARG match and NOTHING happened.
It says 86 on the title but it looks suspiciously like 1981 in Sydney. I believe that it was when Argentina and England played in a youth match at the old Sydney Sports Ground.
Just don't buy it. Go to a local grocery store and buy some Brazilian beer to tailgate with. Budwesier will stop sponsoring the event if no one is buying their shitty product.
The Australia commentary (as well as the complete lack of police at the event) does rather point to it being Australian. There was also no trouble at the England v Argentina match, and the Aztec Stadium looks nothing like that. As for beer, it's not great that the only beer is Budweiser, but I can put up with it during a game, which is hardly serious drinking time for most.
Lol...I have often entered people's homes and politely declined a drink when i realized I was being offered Budweiser. It is shit and in no way taste the same as other beers mentioned above. I cared about alcohol levels when I was 17. Now, I drink beer to enjoy full-bodied taste. So as far as your, "that's what matters most" comment...I will disagree. Too bad they have done jack shit to improve it.