They’re just playing games with my heart.
—Beer loving sports fanRussia, whose most famous export may be vodka, is staging the driest Olympics in memory. For many fans, it is the biggest upset of the Winter Games.
—Wall Street Journal
The sports fan quoted above had gotten excited when he saw a sign saying he could buy beer at the Olympic curling center. It turns out the beer was nonalcoholic. Russia has a law against selling alcohol inside sports stadiums and arenas. And a local ordinance prohibits selling alcohol within 50 meters of some sports events. Apparently people can buy alcohol for the outdoor events up in the mountains, but it’s just not the same for some fans.
On the plus side, the restrictions are helping Russia’s fight against alcoholism, and Sochi will no doubt be spared drunken revelers like the ones that overran the streets of Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics. It sounds to me that the restrictions may be a good idea, but I don’t drink. Do you have any feelings one way or the other?
February 13, 2014
I don’t drink. Drunk drivers are a big problem.
Especially here in New Mexico.
Sports for both genders are supposed to be so healthy – but somehow “drinks” after to celebrate seem to be part of the whole caper…and then driving home is an addition!
?Most People who watch sports seem to take it as part of the whole caper as well…
There are huge problems with “drink” at our major sports grounds – because it usually involves fans becoming excited and throwing glass/metal missiles around. There are bag checkers and all “drink” is binned, even water. You can however, buy a plastic “glass” at the registered trader who will charge you like a bull!
I rarely hake these kind of “drinks” nowadays although from time to time, I will have 1/2 doz in the fridge…for personal inhouse drinking.
I’m not sure sports are that healthy for the spectators, but most of them do enjoy the events, especially if they have their beer and snacks. I don’t like crowds, especially rowdy ones, so I’ll cheerfully stay at home!
There would be others to make the crowds happy rather than not selling alcohol. But I don’t think the organisers would be interested in doing things that way. So, on balance, I guess no alcohol is probably a net gain. I do drink alcohol.
Presumably the part of the crowd whose team is winning would be happy. The other part not so much.
i don’t drink either so wouldn’t be a personal problem.
occasionally i have a light beer or a glass of wine. but wouldn’t miss it if i couldn’t.
i wonder though…
if people who want it and are used to having it… might be like a heavy smoker.
those can get downright surly if they can’t smoke!
when the state prohibited it from our workplace it almost caused some of them to revolt! seriously!
good grief.
No. In India, we have got used to the whims and fancies of dogooding politicos declaring Prohibition Days at the drop of a hat and everybody simply stocks up at home or carries hip flasks.
That sounds like a wise idea!