German authorities enforcing curbs on binge drinking for England’s opening fixture of Euro 2024 this weekend say fans should smoke cannabis instead, as users tend to be in a more “chill mood”.
Bosses at Arena AufSchalke have opted to serve only weak beer or shandy for England‘s opening group game against Serbia on Sunday, amid fears of drunken misbehaviour.
But cannabis was made legal in Germany on April 1, and Gelsenkirchen Police spokesperson Stephan Knipp has said that England’s army of fans should smoke cannabis instead.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: “It’s no problem for fans to smoke cannabis on the street. If we see a group of people drinking alcohol and looking a bit aggressive, and another group smoking cannabis, of course we’ll look at the group drinking alcohol.
“Drinking alcohol can make someone more aggressive, and smoking cannabis puts people in a chill mood.”
He added: “We want to prevent violence and keep people safe. Our focus will be on fans who are drinking and potentially getting violent — that’s why we in place safety precautions on alcohol.”
Smoking cannabis won’t be permitted within the 62,000-seat stadium, or in dedicated fan zones, city squares or bars.
Meanwhile, bars in “sensitive areas” of the city will stop serving alcohol immediately before and after the match.
Officers in Germany are preparing for the possibility of major fan disorder amid warnings it the most “high-risk” fixture of the tournament.
England’s superb performances in recent Euros campaigns have been undermined by riots, including disorder before their 2016 opener against Russia, and around the final of the last tournament.
Gelskenkirchen’s chief of police, Peter Both, told Telegraph Sport the game carried a threat of rioting like that which marred England’s previous Euros runs and saw both England and Russia threatened with expulsion from the 2016 tournament.
UEFA is taking a hardline approach to wasted fans, and has warned supporters could be subjected to random drug and alcohol tests if they appear intoxicated while following the Three Lions, the i reports.
It is said that fans will be subjected to on-the-spot tests if they appear to be under the influence when attempting to gain entry to stadiums.
Random checks will be carried out, either by police officers or trained officials using breathalysers, on fans who display behavioural problems or are clearly intoxicated.