Alcohol Is the Reason Behind the Free Seats at the World Cup Arenas

06/20/2014 - 09h59

If you are watching the 2014 World Cup on TV –especially if you did not get tickets-you are probably asking yourself: why there are so many free seats at the arenas?

A game afternoon helps to find out who is to blame: the alcohol –and its diuretic effects.

Yesterday (19), while the ball rolled during Uruguay vs England, there were huge queues to use the restrooms and buy beer.

Twenty minutes before the end of the first half, it was possible to see fans leaving their spots to buy beer with shorter queues.

While Suárez, Rooney and his teammates prepared to return to the pitch, fans run back to their seats carrying up to two glasses so they would not miss anything.

Even with the long wait, other fans preferred to queue until they were able to get their drinks.

In a hurry, English fan Joe Fleetham, 27, was surprised to know the sale of alcohol at Brazilian stadiums is forbidden –except for the World Cup.

"I think it is ok, only moderation is needed", he said.

The route grandstand-bar-restrooms was followed throughout the match. At the second-half, the bank clerk Wanderlei Siqueira had already drunk ten beers –six during the game.

The high consumption of alcohol at the arena is attested by the doctor Domingos Hernandez, who coordinated the medical assistance in two matches.

According to the doctor, alcohol was the cause of more than half of the calls –188 in total during the first game and 96 yesterday.

"It shows we cannot sell alcohol during the Brazilian Championship or the State Championship", he said.

Free seats were also spotted in matches that had slow-paced access, like Spain and the Netherlands in Salvador, probably motivated by the late supporters.

As for the ticketless fans, there is still an option apart from complaining in front of the TV: Fifa stated yesterday that 8,000 tickets are still on sale.

More might be offered for purchase if fans of the eliminated teams like Spain give up their tickets.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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