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News
VIPs exempt from stadium alcohol ban at Paris Olympics
The organisers of the Paris Olympics have not applied for an exemption to French law banning the sale of alcohol in stadiums — but VIPs will still be served booze.
The law, called ‘Evin’s Law’ after the French health minister who introduced legislation on the controlled marketing and use of tobacco and alcohol, means that the general publis within stadiums at next summer’s Paris Olympics will not be able to drink alcohol.
But the same rule does not apply to VIP hospitality at events, meaning alcohol can still be served in those areas.
This year’s Rugby World Cup, also due to take place in France, will see fans able to drink in stadiums as the organisers negotiated an exemption, in a similar way to the Champions League final last year at the Stade de France in Paris, although drinking and buying alcohol in public spaces around the stadium was banned.
According to Reuters, a spokesperson for the Paris Olympics said that the ‘strict application’ of French law meant it was unfeasible for them to apply for an exemption, due to the size of the Olympics, which sees 700 competitions across 15 days at a variety of venues across Paris and the country.
As a result, the application would have required a change in the whole of French law to accommodate the event.
Last year, with only a few days before the event kicked-off, FIFA made last minute alcohol restrictions at eight World Cup stadiums in Qatar forcing the Budweiser beer brand to relocate outside, before banning the sale of alcohol altogether in stadiums across the event.
Macron
The news follows the French president Emmanuel Macron being caught in a debate about ‘toxic masculinity’ while drinking a bottle of beer in a sports stadium.
The incident occurred when Macron was filmed in the changing room of the Toulouse rugby team, where he was called upon by the players to drink a bottle of Corona.
He then proceeded to down the drink, to chants from the team, within 17 seconds.
The video was soon circulated on social media, where it created a spat between opposing sets of MPs about whether or not it classified as reinforcing stereotypes about toxic masculinity.
Macron is a keen supporter of the French wine trade, and has previously commented on having a glass of wine at lunch and in the evening.
The debate about Macron’s beer drinking spilled onto broadcast news channels, where debates occurred about whether the President was setting a good and healthy example, as well as whether it was an example of toxic masculinity.
It follows previous attacks on Macron’s drinking. In 2018, he came under fire for his wine consumption by a leading epidemiologist. Macron’s 14 glasses of wine a week, one with lunch and dinner each day, is unhealthy, claims French epidemiologist Catherine Hill. She has previously served on the Agence du Médicament’s scientific advisory board.
Hill recommended that Macron limit himself to 10 glasses per week. His current consumption of 14 glasses a week is in line with the French national average.
The debate over France’s predilection for wine came to a head when nine doctors published an open letter in Le Figaro at the time.
They claimed that comments made by Macron and his government about the health benefits of wine were misleading and called for tougher regulations.
Alcohol leads to around 50,000 deaths per year in France, they added.