The European Championships will take place in Germany in the summer. This has prompted the British government to issue a kind of travel warning. It’s about the local beer. People on the island are not having fun.
The whole of Europe is looking forward to the European Football Championship next summer. The tournament in Germany begins on June 14th. Hundreds of thousands of fans from the participating nations will then travel to Germany to cheer on their country.
Many of them come from Great Britain. It was foreseeable that top favorite England would be at the tournament with stars like Bayern’s Harry Kane or former Dortmund player Jude Bellingham. But Scotland also surprisingly qualified. With Wales, a third team from the island could even jump on the European Championship bandwagon if the country manages to make the playoffs.
The British government has now warned all British fans – about German beer. The official government website gives these tips for traveling around the tournament. It also says: “Beer can be stronger in Germany than in the UK. Drink responsibly, know your limits and respect local laws.”
Too much alcohol? No entry into the stadium
It is also made clear: If you drink too much alcohol, you could have a problem with the games. “You may not be allowed into the stadium if you drink too much,” it continues.
Whether British fans are following their government’s advice could be checked for the first time at the opening game. Then Scotland meets Germany in Munich. It is quite possible that “Bravehearts” who are too fond of drinking will not be allowed into the arena despite having a ticket. England starts the tournament two days later in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia.
“Don’t need advice from the nanny state”
Meanwhile, Tory MP Kevin Foster didn’t find the government’s advice funny at all. “At a time when there are so many serious issues for the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) to address in terms of world peace, a comment about German beer should be the least of their worries,” he told the British tabloid Sun.
Foster also clarified: “Fans traveling to Germany should respect our hosts and their laws, just as we expect visitors to the UK to do. But they don’t need advice from the nanny state.”
Benjamin Elks from the TaxPayers’ Alliance also expressed criticism. “Taxpayers are fed up with meaningless advice from desk clerks who think they know everything better,” he said clearly. “The ministers should show these patronizing diplomats the red card.”