With São Paulo’s backing, SP deputies kick off debate on beer in 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 exponents in the fight for the legalization, mainly of beer, in the stadiums of São Paulo.

The topic returns to the agenda nearly three decades after its 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 match days.

The FORWARD MY 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 São Paulo Championship of 2024, through a change in the competition regulations. He was satisfied to get, at least, authorization to serve it only in the suites of Morumbi. 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 Prosecutor's Office.

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 have the subject 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 inside the consumption occurs even within snack bars. The current legislation bans the sale both inside the stadiums and within a radius of 200 meters from 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 don't happen; they happen outside. And we leave money on the table. Beer is something for consumption. Why at a big concert can there be alcoholic beverages, and not in football? 'Ah, they are different audiences.' Oops, there is 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 no comfort or security," he said.

Internal numbers from the São Paulo board show that the legalization of beer in 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 suites 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.