With São Paulo’s backing, SP deputies begin talks on beer sales at stadiums | OneFootball

The Legislative Assembly of São Paulo begins this Monday (29) a public hearing that should accelerate the debate on the legalization of the sale of alcoholic beverages in sports arenas in the state. Since 2023, São Paulo Futebol Clube has been one of the main proponents in the fight for the legalization, mainly of beer, in the stadiums of São Paulo.

The issue returns to the agenda almost three decades after the sale was banned, in 1995, amid the commotion caused by the death of a 16-year-old boy during a fight between São Paulo and Palmeiras fans, at Pacaembu, for a junior tournament.

The project is from 2023, authored by deputies Delegado Olim (PP), Itamar Borges (MDB), Dani Alonso (PL) and Carlão Pignatari (PSDB), provides for the legalization of the sale of beverages with up to 15% alcohol content within stadiums and has already received a favorable opinion from the Committee on Constitution, Justice and Drafting, with the support of Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) and direct articulation from the São Paulo Football Federation. Clubs see the change as an opportunity to increase revenues on game days.

The AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR revealed at the end of 2023 that São Paulo tried to legalize the sale and consumption of beer in the stadiums of São Paulo already in the Paulista Championship of 2024, through a change in the competition's regulations. It was satisfied to achieve, at least, the authorization to serve it only in the Morumbi boxes. Even with the support of the FPF, two blows interrupted the plans: the lack of support from rivals, more concerned with other issues, and the veto of the Military Police and State Public Ministry.

Seeing that he would not have a dialogue with the authorities, President Julio Casares decided to act. Close to Tarcísio and the governor's allied base, he managed to get the issue debated at the Palácio dos Bandeirantes. And he won the initial arm wrestling with the PM and MP-SP.

In practice, the ban has never been fully complied with. Vendors sell beer in the vicinity of the stadiums, without effective supervision, and in the interior consumption occurs even within the snack bars. The current legislation bans the sale both inside the stadiums and within a 200-meter radius of the event, but it has become a dead letter.

In São Paulo, Casares has said on more than one occasion that he intends to "fight to overturn this veto". In an interview with 'TV Cultura' in September 2023, he pointed out the inconsistency between football and other events.

“Why at a Coldplay concert can everything be sold? There is discrimination in this. This has to be discussed. I believe we have a hypocrisy here: 'You can't drink beer in the stadium!' And the guy drinks everything outside!” Two years later, in an interview with Uol, Casares reinforced the same line: “The fights inside the stadium do not happen; they happen outside. And we leave money on the table. Beer is a consumable. Why at a big concert can alcoholic beverages be sold, and not at football? 'Ah, they are different audiences.' Oops, there's prejudice in the story," he said.

Marketing director Eduardo Toni has also criticized the situation, highlighting the greater risk of unregulated consumption on the streets.

“In the vicinity of the stadium, alcoholic beverages are sold, without paying taxes and such. And then the guy has neither comfort nor security,” he said.

Internal numbers from the São Paulo board show that the legalization of beer in the bars would represent an immediate increase of up to 39% in Morumbi's revenues. And the stadium was the second largest source of money for the club last year. Moreover, the presence of the most consumed beverage by Brazilians is seen as a driver to close more lucrative contracts with boxes and sponsors.

The hearing takes place in a scenario where legalization is already a reality in other states and even in national competitions. For the defenders of the project, São Paulo is behind in the discussion and loses not only revenues, but the chance to organize in a safe way a habit that already exists, but out of the reach of the authorities.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.