Rio Football Federation President Reveals The State Will Allow Alcohol Consumption In Stadiums Next Year

Rio de Janeiro Football Federation President Rubens Lopes revealed that the Campeonato Carioca 2013 (Rio State Championship) "will allow the sale of alcoholic beverages inside stadiums," according to Leo Burla of LANCENET.com.br. The four big clubs in Rio (Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco and Botafogo) support the idea. Lopes will have a meeting with Rio de Janeiro Attorney General Claudio Lopes to discuss the topic. A date for the meeting has not been scheduled as of now. Rubens Lopes would like for alcohol to be available inside stadiums "only when the game is being played." The sale of alcohol inside stadiums, or within 500m of them, "has been prohibited in the state of Rio de Janiero since June 23, 1998." Rubens Lopes said, "In England they can drink, and this does not increase violence in stadiums. We have a study that shows that the majority of people wait until the first whistle to enter the stadium, and there are still those who even wait for the game to start, so they can be drinking on the outside, because they know they cannot get it inside. And what does this cause? Turmoil and problems when it comes to stadium access" (LANCENET.com.br, 9/18).