Call the Neo-probes! Athletic competitions now proven to lead to binge drinking as Vancouver struggles to keep up with drunk jet setting gangs of cow bell ringers and fans of third-rate curlering nations. Jet setting Olympic public boozing is apparently something we are very good at in Canada:
“Due to an unprecedented number of intoxicated people, we must do what we can to ensure the Games are safe for everyone,” said a spokesman for the province’s liquor licensing branch Sunday. “We’re taking a measured approach that still allows people to have fun and feel confident that they will be safe while doing so,” he said… Vancouver Police said they are prepared to ask for more early-closing orders to tackle public drinking, drunkenness and disorder on city streets, after being granted similar orders for Saturday and Sunday. Police spokesman Const. Lindsey Houghton said there was a noticeable spike in people bringing booze into the downtown core on the weekend.
And it’s not just the crowds in the streets who are booze fueled. We Canadians proudly celebrated the gold medal celebrations by our own Jon Montgomery, the fastest guy to go head first down an ice chute on a sled: “I don’t subscribe to necessarily all the things typical athletes do, and for me a pint now and then is a good thing,” he said… “I go out to parties with him, and he finishes the party,” said teammate Mike Douglas. He finishes the party. That’s why we love him. He walked around chugging from a pitcher of beer after the victory pretty much like he did, above, at the Skeleton World Championships in Feb. 2008. And during an interview, a fan tossed Montgomery a mickey of rye, which he stuck in his back pocket. That’s why we love him. He is us.
We are such bad examples for ourselves.
Update: Huffington Post has the photos and a video:
[Original comments…]
Alan – February 21, 2010 10:29 PM
And just for the record, I am having a St. Ambroise 2006 Vintage Ale for the third period of the men’s Canada USA hockey game. I am very pleasantly surprised with some cherry/almond notes in the grainy malt as well as a good jag of hops to cut the cloy. Not overly heavy, either, even at 9.2%. Big BAer love.
Pivní Filosof – February 22, 2010 1:23 AM
http://www.pivni-filosof.com/
“the fastest guy to go head first down an ice chute on a sled”.
I’m not surprised the man likes his tipple. You need to by mildly intoxicated to do that…
Reg Armstrong – February 22, 2010 11:14 AM
Hi Alan, Although I am 50 miles from Vancouver, and maybe 35 from Whistler in a different direction, the energy level in Vancouver can be felt here at home. The 4 Gold Medal Winners all project the same attitude. Humble and down to earth. The world can’t believe it, especially you know who. We have stayed clear of the major throng (1.6 million people on public transit/day) but shall jump in with both feet the final day, taking in Men’s Final Hockey and the Closing Ceremonies. Will take us 2 days to get there, and probably 4 to get back home. And yes, there will be beer involved.
bierfesten – February 22, 2010 8:50 PM
downtown Vancouver is Filled with DRUNKEN drones who step on the roads of passing cars. I’m fully in support of the 7pm closing times of the Liquor Stores. Drink in bars instead of the streets..