NEWS
FINAL DECISION: NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN OLYMPIC VENUES, ASAHI’S EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS IN VAIN
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
28-6-2021
Credit: Kyle Dias/Unsplash
After months of deliberations, the organisers of the Tokyo Olympics announced that no alcohol sales will be allowed in Olympic venues, despite that domestic audience will be allowed to fill up 50 percent of the capacities, or up to 10,000.
The final decision is to the dismay of Japanese drinks giant Asahi Group, one of the Olympic sponsors and the only company winning an exclusive rights to sell alcoholic drinks in the venues.
The organising committee also said that spectators would also be prevented from taking their own alcohol to venues.
The president of the organising committee, Seiko Hashimoto, said that the decision had been made to ensure the Games are “safe and secure” during the coronavirus pandemic.
She also said the Asahi Group has accepted the final decision.
Earlier this week, media reports said organisers were poised to allow Japanese spectators inside venues to drink alcohol following pressure from Asahi.
Earlier, she had said the sale of alcoholic drinks was “being considered”, but acknowledged there were concerns that alcohol consumption could make spectators more likely to shout and ignore social distancing rules.
Critics pointed out that residents of Tokyo, where a full state of emergency was lifted at the weekend, still face restrictions on alcohol consumption.
Under new measures that becomes effective today, Tokyo residents can drink alone or with one other person for up to 90 minutes between 11am and 7pm at bars and restaurants.
The sense that the Games were being given preferential treatment while people and businesses still have to follow alcohol rules appeared to have influenced the organisers’ about-turn on alcohol sales in Olympic venues.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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