The FIFA World Cup 2014 starts this week, but Alcohol Concern have warned that police and A&E services will be under added pressure as alcohol consumption and related violence spikes.
Alcohol Concern's new briefing 'Alcohol and Football' reviews the links between alcohol consumption, football and marketing. It warns that pressure on A&Es is likely to rise significantly; the 2010 World Cup saw a 37.5% rise in assault attendances on England match days. It also identified domestic violence increased by up to 30% during World Cup 2006 England games, with other research showing domestic abuse rose by up to 38% when England lost in World Cup games.
Alcohol Concern say the drinks industry continues to work hard to align itself with the healthy image of sport, and that 'football and alcohol have become entwined at all levels'. In England, official alcohol sponsorship or partnership deals were held with 17 of the 20 Premier League clubs in the 2013/14 season, with high levels of exposure to alcohol adverts despite widespread viewing amongst children.
In relation to the Word Cup, the briefing highlights that Brazil's domestic law, which has banned alcohol sales from football stadiums since 2003, has been overturned following 'pressure from FIFA'. FIFA has a long-term, multi-million pound contracts with AB InBev for Budweiser to be the official beer of the World Cup. It states similar pressures are already being placed on authorities for the Russian World Cup in 2018 and Qatar World Cup in 2022 who also have bans on alcohol sales in and around stadiums.
Earlier this year the Coalition Government announced its decision to relax licensing hours nationally during the World Cup owing to late UK kick off times. The decision followed controversy after the Home Office had previously appeared to have ruled out the option and leave it with local authorities, but the Prime Minister ordered a "re-think" soon after.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and partners have produced guidance for pubs to help ensure that venue's World Cup screenings are safe. The guidance is intended as a template for pubs, local authorities and police and provides a checklist for licensees.
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