Fans who attend the 2024 Paris Olympics will not be able to drink alcohol at competition venues − unless they’re VIPs.
A Paris 2024 spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement Tuesday morning, explaining that the ban on booze stems from the application of Evin’s law, a 1991 statute pertaining to the sale and advertisement of alcohol. French law prohibits the sale or distribution of alcohol in “stadiums, physical education rooms, gymnasiums” and other sports establishments, but sets out different rules for catered hospitality areas − such as VIP suites.
“Paris 2024 has not sought an exemption from this law,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “Such an exemption would have required a change in the law for an event the size of the Games.”
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Evin’s law offers exemptions for up to 10 events per organizer per year in a particular municipality, the spokesperson added, but next summer’s Olympic Games will feature more than 700 competition sessions over 15 days.
French newspaper Le Parisien first reported the news Monday.
A similar arrangement was in place for the men’s world cup in Qatar last year, with alcohol sales available in VIP areas but not to regular fans.
The 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo also did not sell alcohol to fans at stadium venues − though that, of course, is because they didn’t have fans in the first place, due to COVID-19. Beer and wine were available in stadiums at the two Summer Games before that, in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and London in 2012.
The Paris 2024 spokesperson said the distinction that will allow alcohol to be consumed in VIP areas, despite being banned in the rest of the stadium, is simply a matter of French law, not a move by the organizing committee.
“It is not for Paris 2024 to comment on this application of different laws, but for the legislator to define the relevant framework for event organisers,” the spokesperson said.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
