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World Cup 2018: Football Fans Will Now Be Able To Buy 87p Pints Of Beer As Russia Lifts Drinking Ban

World Cup 2018: Football Fans Will Now Be Able To Buy 87p Pints Of Beer As Russia Lifts Drinking Ban

Russian authorities had said that England fans would not be able to buy booze at stadiums that were hosting matches in the tournament.

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Football fans - you already know this, but there is a World Cup on later this year.

Admittedly, a lot of people aren't looking forward to it as much as they might be partly because it's in Russia.

This is mostly because we saw some pretty ugly scenes between Russian and English fans at the European Championship in France in 2018, but also because for a long time they were told that they wouldn't be able to get a drink.

The Russian authorities had said that England fans would not be able to buy booze at stadiums that were hosting matches in the tournament.

They also said that this ban would extend to all fan zones where fans without match tickets could gather to watch the match.

English football fans enjoying themselves.
PA

But now it looks as if Vlad and the boys have decided against that idea - possibly because they think that not many people would show up to what has been a pretty expensive party to host.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko has confirmed that fans will be able to get a beer just fine at official World Cup events.

"This will be not only at stadiums but also in fan zones," said Deputy Prime Minister Mutko.

Good news for English football fans and, indeed, the fans of other countries.

As every football fan knows, flinging a plastic chair across a square is nowhere near as much fun if you aren't half cut.

The official beers of the World Cup - which will take place in 11 cities and 12 stadiums - will be Budweiser and the Russian beer Klinskoye.

For one half a litre bottle of beer it will cost punters about 72p, whereas a pint in many places is a rip-off at about 87p.

Beer from 87p. What A Result!
PA

Previous Foreign Office info had said: "During the tournament, the sale of alcohol at events associated with the tournament will be banned

"Alcohol won't be available at stadium during matches. The sale and consumption of alcohol in glass containers will be banned on the evening and day of matches in certain locations in host cities."

Russia has got a pretty lax attitude to beer to be honest - it was only accepted as an alcoholic drink in 2011 having previously been considered a foodstuff.

This extreme measure was brought in to combat the heavy drinking that has become a feature of Russian culture.

The World Health Organisation said at the time that Russia was at twice the critical level of alcohol consumption.

The measures came into place in 2013 and made it so that alcohol could no longer be sold anywhere and at any time as well as regulating alcohol advertising.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, Food, Football, Booze, World Cup, Beer