France has banned the consumption of alcohol at the 2024 Paris Olympics except for special VIP elites, according to reports.
Those without a VIP ticket will be restricted to drinking water, while elite guests will have access to a much wider range of beverages, including alcohol.
Alcohol sales have long been banned to the general public in France’s sports stadiums due to an edict called Elvin’s Law which began in 1991
While exceptions for the consumption of alcohol at such events are allowed, a spokesperson for the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games did not seek one, telling Reuters it was down to a sheer number of events across two-plus weeks.
“Paris 2024 will be organizing more than 700 competition sessions over 15 days of competition,” the spokesperson said.
However, elite VIP elites at the Paris Olympics event will be allowed drink as much alcohol as they please.
Thanks to a loophole that permits alcohol distribution in specially catered hospitality areas, elite guests will not be subject to the same restrictions as those in the cheap seats.
“It is the strict application of French law that allows catering services that include the provision of alcohol to operate in hospitality areas as they are governed by a separate law on catering,” the spokesperson told the outlet.
According to Le Parisien, some VIP sections will be greeted with a champagne service on arrival and be provided access to bars serving alcohol for the duration of the event.
The news comes months after France banned domestic commercial short-haul flights for journeys possible in less than two-and-a-half hours by train but did not the same rule for private jets.
This means those flying commercial to get to the Paris Olympics, if their flight is less than two and a half hours, will be forced to use trains or drive.
Beer and wine were available at the London 2012 Olympics and Rio 2016.
In the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, which were held in 2021, alcohol sales were prohibited.
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