England and Scotland football fans warned of strength of German beer ahead of Euro 2024
Euro 2024 will kick off on 14 June with around half a million Britons expected to travel to Germany – and the Foreign Office is warning people not to get too drunk.
By Kieren Williams, news reporter
Travelling England and Scotland football fans have been warned of the strength of German beer ahead of Euro 2024.
Official guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has urged people to “drink responsibly” during their time on the continent for this summer’s tournament.
It warned that drunk and rowdy football fans could face being barred from stadiums, as England’s hopes of winning the competition are almost as high as they’ve ever been.
The FCDO advised: “Beer can be stronger than in the UK, so drink responsibly, know your limits and respect local laws. You may not be let into the stadium if you drink too much.”
The average strength of lager and ale in the UK is around 4.4%, according to Drinkware – but in Germany, beers are often 4.7% to 5.4%.
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The FCDO also called on fans to “respect local cultural sensitivities” and be aware of any repercussions if they didn’t.
However, Paul Goodwin, co-founder of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, dismissed any concerns that German beer is too strong for English and Scottish fans.
“This is one of those stories that we thought was going to arrive on 1 April. The Tartan Army – we’ve travelled the world and sampled local delights, the beers and the cuisine all over the world, and we’ve never really had a problem with it.
“So it’s much ado about nothing,” he said.
About half a million Britons are expected to make the journey to Germany this summer, with the tournament being held across 10 German cities, from 14 June to 14 July.
‘You learn to learn from their pain’
Scotland will kick-off the tournament as they face hosts Germany in Munich on the opening day.
England will begin their campaign two days later when they face Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.
Read More:England and Scotland football fans warned of strength of German beer ahead of Euro 2024