By Andrew Warshaw
March 8 – The World Cup beer battle between Brazil and FIFA has taken a vital step forward with officials finally recommending lifting the strict ban on the sale of alcohol at stadiums.
A Congressional Committee voted 15-9 to approve the final hurdle of the so-called World Cup bill covering both the 2014 World Cup and the 2013 Confederations Cup.
But the plan still has to go forward to key Government departments for approval, including the lower house and Senate, and will require a signature from President Dilma Rousseff before it is enacted.
Alcoholic beverages were banned by Brazil in 2003, in a desperate attempt to reduce violence at its stadiums.
But as it prepares for the World Cup, the country has been under intense pressure to revoke at least part of its federal ban.
FIFA has described allowing alcohol as non-negotiable, not least because Budweiser will once again be a key World Cup sponsor – a role it has played since 1986.
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