World Cup 2018: Putin to consider beer at stadiums

Beer could be making its way back into Russian sports stadiums just in time for the 2018 World Cup.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he will reconsider the ban on serving beer at stadiums for the World Cup, the Associated Press reported. He was questioned about the ban when he and FIFA President Sepp Blatter met with fans in St. Petersburg to commemorate the 100th birthday of the Russian soccer federation.

Putin told the fan who asked about the ban in stadiums, “when the decision was made about stadiums, it came from the best of intentions. OK, we’ll return to it again and think about it,” the AP reported. Blatter chimed in that so popular among fans, saying “beer is like a part of life. Can you imagine holding a championship in Germany without beer?”

In 2003 Moscow opened a clinic to treat child alcohols after senior health officials said the number of children under 14 addicted to alcohol rose from 6,300 to more than 22,000 in 10 years, the Guardian reported.

Read more at GlobalPost: News Flash! Beer is alcohol, Russia says

"Attractive, obsessive and aggressive beer advertising makes it extremely attractive for consumption," security committee head, Vladimir Vasilyev, told the Duma, the Guardian reported.

In 2005 Putin signed a law banning beer and beer advertisement at sports venues, the AP reported. The ban was spurred by the number of children in Russia addicted to alcohol, the Guardian reported.

Putin scored big with domestic soccer fans after taking the right to host the 2018 World Cup from England in a tough race last year, the AFP reported. The prime minister has even announced the country will allow all fans into Russia for the World Cup as long as they have a ticket.

"Russia has decided to let in all the fans for the 2018 World Cup if they have tickets," Putin said, the AFP reported. "What's more, we are even considering the option of letting fans use their tickets to travel between host cities for free," he said.