Keeping the game beautiful .....and safe

What will our kids see during World Cup?

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

Hopefully they'll see me drinking Budweiser as I watch the Final.

I think the predictor for how someone votes on this issue is simply whether the person has had the enjoyment of a match interrupted by a drunk. There are worse things then a noisy drunk standing in front of you--like a sick drunk standing behind you.

Disruptive drunks can be denied entrance at the gates, but when alcohol is served in the stadiums incident prevention is impossible. Authorities are stuck reacting to reported incidents instead of being pro-active.

I for one would not want to travel thousands of miles at great expense to sit next to a drunk.

Just a quick google led to a couple of facts. For the last ten years alcoholism has been a serious, growing problem in South America. In South American countries 8-15% of the population suffer diseases related to alcohol comsumption. That is more than twice the average elsewhere. Brazil in particular is rated 13th highest in the world for alcohol related deaths. I think it is unconscionable for FIFA to interfere in a country's internal affairs.

I agree with ranova I don't like sitting near sloppy people in general.

If they can drink with out spilling any of their beer on me, and they can hold their booze like men. I am ok with that.

I don't like sitting next to people who are blowing those loud horns in my ear either.

I don't like sitting near people who decide they want to light up a flair near me.

I don't want to sit near people who want to fight someone just because they want the other team to win.

I don't want to watch a game next to someone who feels like singing to support their team when they can't sing.

When I watch a game I actually just want to watch the game, and enjoy beautiful play.

I don't want to watch a team that plays an ugly game even if that is the team I want to win.

Wrong forum for this thread? I'll drink to that!!!

This is ridiculous! But I don't expect an American beer company to understand why alcohol is banned around stadiums in South America (and Europe for that matter). They should stick to baseball and american football games. Budweiser is crappy beer anyway, as is any American beer. Heineken all the way!

Cheers!

First of all, "good beer" is down to personal preference for taste. For me, there is no good American beer, period. Heineken is 100 times better than any American beer.

Second, they serve beer in stadiums in US because the culture of people at stadiums in US is different. People go to stadiums to have a picnic - beer and hot dogs. Plus, the law and order at stadiums is at another level compared to many other countries. What other countries serve or sell beer at the stadiums?

Third, FIFA is forcing Brazil to do it because Budweiser is forcing FIFA with the amount of money they are putting for sponsorship. Budweiser should stick to baseball, football and the average American sports fan.

Fourth, regarding your last remark.....what kind of people attend WC games and how are they different than regular European and South American league games? Aren't they the same passionate soccer fans?

Any beer sold at the stadium? When you say "plenty of beer outside and on the way to the stadium" what does it actually mean?

Have laws changed? Last time I checked many countries had laws forbidding the sale of any alcohol at the stadium, sometimes even at certain radius around the stadium and for a set amount of time period before and after a soccer game.

I understand that WC games have extra security staff and measurements compared to league games, but it is still high risk to allow alcohol or the sale of alcohol during WC games.

i was surprised too.. youth forum??

i just hate the excuse....because everyone else did it/ is doing it. i don't know how it is in other countries but when people in the U.S. behave badly, blame it on a riot and/or the alcohol and then get off when they hurt someone it just makes me sick. LA riots and NYC PR day parade come to mind.

another thought, i don't believe in sueing people but i know the society that i live in. if that were a law here and the stadium was forced to change their policies for an event and someone was hurt because of that change...they(or thier relatives) would own the stadium.

@YONKO is there anything you like about this country? You always post like you're not here ? "americans this and americans that".

Yes, there are things I like about this country, but they are not soccer related. I am here, but I am not from here.

That coming from I guy who likes Budweiser.... LOL

So one can buy beer at the stadium in England? Can you drink it in your seat? Laws must've really changed then. There was a time when you couldn't buy alcohol at the stadium or around the stadium.

No, I'm sure FIFA is totally happy with the money. But that is not the point.

Really?! Then how come people in this country discuss all the time how soccer needs to appeal more to "the average American sports fan"?

The people who attend WC games are not passionate soccer fans? Maybe not all of them, but a lot of them are. Just look at the pictures of fans from past WCs, look at how they dress and paint their faces, etc. Some of the most passionate and fascinating soccer fans have been seen at the stadiums during WC games.

The people who wanted to drink some can drink at home.

Yes, I am.

South Africa were expected to crash out in the group stage anyway.

But it is a high risk for security when alcohol is sold at or around the stadiums. That's why WC games have probably one of the highest security measures at all times.

And I'm not saying I would be scared to go to WC games, regardless if alcohol is sold or not.

I will tell you why. When I was a kid my neighborhood started to go bad. Well it was always bad, but it got worse. People that moved in were big beer drinkers and big beer spillers. Problem was they did their beer drinking and spilling in the hallways of buildings. They also did their pissing and throwing up in those hallways.

So as a kid I would get home from school and was greated by those nice smells. So much so that I can't drink a beer anymore without smelling those smells in my head.

I was in Germany recently for a party. All they do is drink beer. They kept offering beers to me. I told them I don't drink beer. They kept offering them to me any way, and they asked me why. Finally I had enough and told them this little story. They stopped offering me them after that.

I left early flew home.

doesn't bother me big red. just surprised.

Yonko, I've enjoyed beer in Old Trafford on several occasions. Technically you drink outside the seating area only, but that rule is often broken. Most people can enjoy a sporting event and a few beers without incident. Since Brazil hosts Carnival every year, just as Germany hosts Oktoberfest and we host Mardis Gras, I wouldn't be too worried about beer affecting the World Cup.

Go to NYC this Saturday St. Patricks day. Go to the east 30's in the upper aves at 11 PM. See all the High School kids laying face down dead drunk on the side walks. Then hope the vipers don't show up to pick the bodies clean of any valuables they have.

Ok then....I should've written "that coming from a guy who likes American beer"

Over-the-top or not, it's still an opinion, even if you do not agree with it. No American beer can come close to a European beer from Czech Republic, Germany or Holland.

No, you didn't SPECIFICALLY say that, you said beer was banned in the stands, one can buy it in the stadium but not from the seat. I asked "can you drink beer in your seat" just to clarify what is the modern rule in England.

Now that makes it clear. Is that how it's going to be or it is currently at WC games as well? You can buy beer at the stadium, but you cannot buy it or drink it in your seat?

They are not forcing them to take money. But because of the fact that FIFA is happy to take money from anywhere and specifically from a beer company, that company can force them (FIFA) to change rules for WC events.

So how come you don't think there is no such thing as "average American sports fan"? Isn't that a definition to describe the average American person (male, usually) who likes sporting events such as baseball and football, primarily and especially at college level?

Of course there is a difference between Ultras and passionate soccer fans supporting their nation. But you know damn well that alcohol can have unknown effects on anyone, even the most well behaved individuals.

But I'm always happy to see passionate fans of two different nations sitting together peacefully, before and after games, singing, laughing, having a good time - it sends a positive festive image. I just wish they don't show them drinking during the actual game. That, for me, will take away a little bit from the positive image.

The money can be spent on other things. It doesn't necessarily have to be alcohol, does it?

Especially under the influence of alcohol! Gotcha...

Exactly! That sounds more accurate. See, you'll have to excuse me, English is my second language.

Alcohol-consuming passionate fans do not get scared from terrorism - they are too drunk to care about that.

In all seriousness, I agree, terrorists' treats have become more of a security issue in the last few decades.

My worry is not so much about what American kids will see. After all they watch their dads drink beer at the baseball or football games. My worry is for kids all around the world and the general image of the WC event. Why is it OK to promote alcohol but not cigarettes?