Prohibition at the Euros

The city of Lens has decided to ban drinking for 24 hours in an around every game played there, that includes the BATTLE OF BRITAIN match between England and Wales.

Isn't this a little unnecessary? People have gone over there to have a good time and enjoy their holidays, spending money in the process. Not saying you can't have a good time without alcohol, but it plays a big part in relaxing and having a good time. Suppose the thousands of brits can go chill out at the local coffee houses.

It's this just going to cause more harm than good right? They can drink in the official fan zones, but then the local economy is missing out as it means the spending will all be done through UEFA licensed vendors only. So what's the point of this?

England and Wales fans will not be allowed to drink alcohol on the streets of Lens before and after their Euro 2016 game because of a 24-hour ban.

The Group B tie takes place in the French city at 14:00 BST on Thursday, 16 June and will be live on the BBC.

The ban will run from 06:00 local time on Thursday until 06:00 on Friday, with French authorities searching cars travelling into Lens for alcohol.

Fans without tickets for the match or fan zone have been told not to travel.

Alcohol will only be allowed in the fan zone.

British police have told ticketless supporters to go to Lille, or another city with a fan zone, to watch the game.

Every game in Lens will have the same alcohol restriction.

So the ban will be in place for the Albania v Switzerland, and the Czech Republic v Turkey group games, as well as a round-of-16 match.

Police expect between 350,000 and 500,000 supporters to travel from the United Kingdom to the tournament.

There were about 250,000 tickets sold to UK residents from 1.6m applications.

"There is no excuse for violence, disorder or anti-social behaviour at football matches," said Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for football policing.

"Troublemakers will be dealt with by French police in line with their laws and can expect a banning order on return to the UK."

British police plan to act as "cultural interpreters" to prevent heavy-handed tactics against drunk and rowdy fans who may not cause serious trouble.

The stories I've heard from France '98 I'm surprised England "fans" haven't been banned from France altogether. I think the English fans are going to get a hard time wherever they go.

A total ban makes some sense given some fans have repeatedly proved down the years that they can't be trusted. A partial ban that just screws locals over the sponsors and does nothing to actually stop any potential problems makes no sense at all. From a safety perspective at least it makes perfect sense as an excuse for money making.

I think it's a good thing for a big international tournament like this to be honest.

When I was at Wembley last year there was some people completely off their face drunk. How is that in any way enjoyable?

Yes. Apparently an alcohol ban will be strictly enforced everywhere except for the UEFA fan park. There you can buy as much of the official sponsors' elixir as you can stomach. Fancy!

Rather makes a mockery of the safety argument when you think about it. You won't let people have the freedom of the city and make their own fun but you will happily kettle both sets of fans into a confined space on a hot day with only drink for company.

Yes. Apparently an alcohol ban will be strictly enforced everywhere except for the UEFA fan park. There you can buy as much of the official sponsors' elixir as you can stomach. Fancy!

Rather makes a mockery of the safety argument when you think about it. You won't let people have the freedom of the city and make their own fun but you will happily kettle both sets of fans into a confined space on a hot day with only drink for company.

There'll be a heavy police presence there too. Which in theory means that crowd control will be easier to deal with.

Not difficult to see why Lens have decided on doing this after the rampage the German hooligans went on during 1998.

It's not like Lens is a major city, it's about the size of Accrington isn't it?

It can barely be called a city, let a lone a major one.

Banned on the streets include in pubs etc?

Yep. Not allowed at all.

Don't think I realised Lens was quite that small. How on earth have they got games then, ahead of places like Nantes and Montpellier and Strasbourg?

Lens council told Sky Sports News HQ that they wanted to stress there was no ban in the town during the tournament and that drinks can be purchased in the fanzone, albeit in plastic glasses, and will be on sale around the city, although fans won't be able to buy or consume it on the streets.

Lens councillor Pierre Mazure told SSNHQ reporter Rob Dorsett: "It's never been forbidden to sell alcohol.

"You will be able to drink beer in pubs and bistros in plastic cups. Our message is come to Lens because one thing you will be allowed to do is celebrate!"

Take heed, drunkards!

That pretty much runs contrary to everything they've been saying for the last 3 months.

think its purely because lens is so tiny, they are just trying to persuade people with no ticket to avoid the place all together

They've done it for all the Lens games haven't they ? not just England v Wales