In a departure from previous sporting events, alcohol sales will not be permitted inside stadiums during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Organizers have decided against seeking an exemption to

'Evin's Law', a French legislation that bans the sale of alcohol to the general public at sports venues. However, VIP guests in hospitality areas will still have access to alcoholic beverages.

Under 'Evin's Law', limited exemptions can be granted for a specified number of events each year. However, given the scale of the Paris 2024 Olympics, organizers determined that a change in the law would be necessary to accommodate the size and scope of the event. A spokesperson explained that Paris 2024 will host over 700 competition sessions across 15 days, making it challenging to secure an exemption within the existing legal framework.

Contrastingly, at this year's Rugby World Cup in France, fans will be allowed to consume alcohol inside stadiums as an exemption has been negotiated specifically for the tournament. Similarly, during the 2022 Champions League final held at the Stade de France in Paris, spectators were permitted to drink alcohol throughout the match within the stadium. However, alcohol consumption and purchases were prohibited in public spaces surrounding the venue.

Historically, beer and wine were available for purchase at the London 2012 Olympics and Rio 2016 Olympics. Nevertheless, the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games, which took place in 2021 without spectators, prohibited alcohol sales.

FIFA also implemented a ban on alcohol sales in all eight stadiums of the World Cup in Qatar, changing its policy just two days before the tournament commenced in November. Photo by Anne Jea., Wikimedia commons.