Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 4:02 p.m.
While alcohol will not be allowed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, except for a privileged few, the Rugby World Cup should obtain authorization to offer it to spectators.
“You can’t imagine a Rugby World Cup without beer in the stadiums”. For Jacques Rivoal, president of the organizing committee of the World Cup in France (September 8-October 28), there is no doubt that alcohol will be authorized during the competition. According to the Public Health Code, “the sale and distribution of beverages (with more than 1.2 degrees of alcohol) is prohibited in stadiums, in physical education halls, gymnasiums and, in a way general, in all establishments for physical and sporting activities”. But “the mayor may, by decree, and under the conditions fixed by decree, grant temporary derogatory authorizationslasting a maximum of forty-eight hours, to the prohibition of the sale to be consumed on the spot or to take away and the distribution of (alcoholic) beverages”. The organizers intend to rely on this point of regulationand spectators of the World Cup should therefore be able to consume Asahi, the Japanese brand partner of World Rugby.
Alcohol for VIPs at the Olympics
Alcohol should, however, not be authorized in the stadiums next year, during the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11, 2024). According to The Parisian, the consumption of alcoholic beverages at all Olympic venues will be prohibited, in order to comply with the Evin law. A text that came into force in 1992, which prohibits the advertising and sale of alcohol in certain places, such as stadiums. A ban that will not affect everyone, however. Only spectators with VIP tickets will be able to consume alcohol during these Parisian Olympic Games, in boxes, private spaces and other hospitality lounges. An exception that has a price. For the opening ceremony, for example, the price of VIP seats accessible to the general public ranges from 5,000 to 9,500 euros (excluding tax).
