Euro 2012 Is A Binge Drinker’s Paradise & A Cop’s Nightmare

by Bridget on June 11, 2012

Sports and alcohol have gone hand in hand for centuries. For as long as people have been gathering to attend sporting events, there have been vendors selling beer and mixed drinks to patrons enjoying the game. This year, one of soccer’s biggest tournaments, Euro 2012, is being held in both Poland and the Ukraine. Officials from these counties are very concerned that this year’s tournament will give people an excuse to drink far too much, and cause quite a stir.  Even though it might not seem like it here in the United States of America, soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and the passion fans exhibit at prominent tournaments like the Euro provide soccer enthusiasts with the perfect venue for exhibiting their fandom over a few pints of lager.

Authorities

Police and authorities in Poland and Ukraine have their fingers crossed that nothing catastrophic will happen during this year’s Euro tournament. However, if history is any indication, they can expect the local bar owners to do quite well during the popular soccer event. Fans from all over the world will be descending upon the streets of Poland and Ukraine to watch their favorite squads battle it out for all the glory. Since only one team can win, it means there are going to be an overwhelming number of visitors whose teams lose. These are the individuals that officials are worried about.

Sporting Events

At recent, similar soccer tournaments, drunken brawls have been known to break out not only at bars, but in the stadiums themselves. This can lead to a very dangerous environment for young children and the elderly who are in attendance. It seems as if people believe being overseas at a sporting event gives them free reign to get as drunk as they like, do whatever they want, and experience no consequences. Sadly, this is not the case. Thousands of people are arrested or injured at soccer tournaments like the Euro every year. The bigger the tournament is, the more potentially dangerous the threat.

Dangers

In order to curtail the amount of drinking at this year’s Euro tournament, officials plan on placing a restriction on the amount of alcohol sold, and time limits on when it can be purchased at the stadium. However, that is not going to stop clever spectators from sneaking in their own booze and getting drunk at the matches. Sporting events can be an incredible experience, and cheering on your favorite team can be one of the greatest things ever. But if alcohol is abused, things can turn bad very quickly. Just last year, a fan at a San Francisco Giants baseball game was beaten, nearly to death, by a couple of drunk fans who were blacked out and do not remember the incident.

If you are planning on going to the Euro, or another, similar sporting event, it is wise to know your surroundings and make certain that you are not abusing alcohol. Alcohol abuse in these types of environments, where people’s judgment and inhibitions are already lowered, can be very dangerous and lead to many bad things. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse, it is important that they seek help at an inpatient alcohol treatment center as soon as possible.

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