For the organisation of the Olympic Games, it is a strict application of the Evin law, which does not concern VIP boxes.
Admiring athletes from around the world with a beer or a glass of wine in hand will not be possible next summer, unlike in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. Alcohol will be banned for sale and consumption in all the stadiums of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games… with the exception of the VIP areas. This is confirmed by the organisation of the Olympic Games, this Tuesday 27th June 2023.
“Enforcement of the Evin Law”
In question? “The application of the Evin law”, insists Paris 2024. This law of 1991 prohibits the sale and distribution of drinks from groups 2 to 5 (wine, beer, cider, liqueurs, etc.) in stadiums, as Legifrance points out.
However, an exemption may be granted by the prefects “for reasons related to sporting, agricultural or tourist events”. But the Organising Committee for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics did not wish to initiate this process:
Such a waiver would have involved a legislative change for an event the size of the Games. Indeed, the law allows the derogation from the ban on the sale of alcohol for 10 events per organiser, per year, per municipality. Paris 2024 will organise more than 700 competition sessions over 15 days of competition.
This also explains why the Rugby World Cup, organized in France in September and October 2023, will not be affected. And that it will therefore be possible to consume alcohol in the nine stadiums of the country.
VIP boxes are governed by another law
But this ban will not apply to everyone. The boxes and VIP areas will be able to serve alcohol to guests who have paid (very) expensively for their ticket (sometimes several thousand euros). This difference in treatment may seem paradoxical, even hypocritical, but Paris 2024 denies it, pointing out that “hospitality spaces are governed by the law on catering”, and not by the Evin law.
“It is the strict application of French law. It is not up to Paris 2024 to comment on this difference in the regime, but to the legislator in the last resort to defining the relevant framework for event organisers. »
