11/21/24
June 11, 2004
Police will let fans smoke dope at Euro 2004.: If this doesn't make you love soccer (and Portugal), I don't know what will. (I know, I know, it's The Sun reporting but here's the Guardian and ITV reporting it, too.)
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 01:39 PM - 13 comments
Can you smoke cigarettes at stadiums in Europe? Or are the policies similar to those here in the US? Just curious.
posted by 86 at 01:50 PM on June 11, 2004
It's a great idea. How many rowdy stoners do you know? The only problem I can think of is, who wants to get stoned to watch a sporting event? Alcohol is by far the preferred substance for enjoying athletic events. Now, if they wore psychedelic uniforms and lit the stadium under blacklights...
posted by Succa at 02:14 PM on June 11, 2004
Consessions sales will skyrocket. They better have some cheesypoofs on hand.
posted by corpse at 02:16 PM on June 11, 2004
Can you smoke cigarettes at stadiums in Europe? Or are the policies similar to those here in the US? Just curious. This doesn't really answer your question, but when I was in Amsterdam (the Myrtle Beach of Europe) and Brussels in 2000/2001, you could smoke anywhere you damn well pleased. So it wouldn't be any surprise if you could smoke in the football stadiums.
posted by NoMich at 02:22 PM on June 11, 2004
Amsterdam (the Myrtle Beach of Europe) Great, now I never want to go to Amsterdam. Is that some sort of reverse advertising?
posted by 86 at 02:53 PM on June 11, 2004
I've never been to a no smoking football ground in England (or in Holland, although I've only been to Ajax's and Feyenoords grounds over there).
posted by dng at 02:55 PM on June 11, 2004
Can you smoke cigarettes at stadiums in Europe? Or are the policies similar to those here in the US? Just curious. IIRC, at St. James's Park in Newcastle, you had to go out to the terrace to smoke, just the Ballpark here in Arlington or the Cotton Bowl, or any other outdoor venue I've been to.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:34 PM on June 11, 2004
Great, now I never want to go to Amsterdam. Is that some sort of reverse advertising? I'm not saying that it's a shitty place to visit, just that it isn't for me. I'm not in to what it's famour for. The Museum of the Resistance is very cool though. So it's got that going for it.
posted by NoMich at 03:40 PM on June 11, 2004
I think it would be pretty difficult to ban smoking in football grounds as some supporters can be a bit belligerent and are unlikely to take kindly to being told to put it out. Having said that, I was at the Oval (which of course is a cricket ground) the day after Devon Malcolm reduced the South Africans to wee timorous beasties and was appalled to find myself in a no smoking stand. Mind you, it was a small stand and the game was over before the drink kicked in. This smoke dope thing ain't gonna chill the hoolies out, it ain't their drug of choice. Those that have gone for a scrap, it's the scrap that is their drug of choice. Trust me.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:42 PM on June 11, 2004
Maybe the dope will help deaden the pain of being beaten up by a hoolie.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:13 PM on June 11, 2004
Argh. I just realized BigCalmy already posted this in his Euro 2004 mega-post this morning. And I'm not even smoking anything.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:15 PM on June 11, 2004
Amsterdam's not a nice place off your face. "You're on drugs/ it really bugs me when people try/ and tell me I'm a thug/ Just for getting drunk/ I like getting drunk." (seemed applicable)
posted by yerfatma at 04:55 PM on June 11, 2004
I think the price of game tickets and flights to Portugal just doubled. btw, a special mention must be made of English fan hooliganism, who's legendary reputation has moved the authorities to take this extraordinary action. From the main article I posted: "Alan Buffry of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance said: “If people are drinking they lose control, if they smoke cannabis they don’t. “Alcohol makes fans fight. But cannabis smokers will be shaking hands and singing along together.” Dutch police used a similar policy in Euro 2000 and England’s hooligan element were too stoned to fight. A Lisbon police spokeswoman said: “If people cause a problem through drugs and become a menace then police will take action. But when this doesn’t happen why should the police be the ones making the fuss?” I'm still waiting for someone to pronounce this a hoax.