Alcohol bans enforced in many Colombian cities during the World Cup resulted in a 6% decrease in sales for British multinational brewing company SABMiller, according to their quarterly trading report released Thursday.
The report attributed this 6% profit loss specifically to the “dry laws for the two rounds of the Presidential elections and in key cities during Colombia’s World Cup football matches.” Meanwhile, SABMiller’s sales in the UK increased by 23% in the same period, according to the report.
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The alcohol bans were put in place following at least 9 soccer-related fatalities and 3,000 reported brawls in the Colombian capital of Bogota after Colombia’s 3-0 victory against Greece on June 14.
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The dry law implemented in Bogota was deemed a success in the wake of the Colombia-Japan match on June 24 as there was an 80% decrease in reported fights and no fatalities, according to the Colombian Ministry of the Interior.
SABMiller is the parent company of Bavaria S.A., the Colombian brewing company that produces such well-known Colombian brands as Aguila, Club Colombia, Pilsen, and Poker.
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Sources
- F15 Q1 Trading Update (SABMiller)
- Administración Distrital dicta medidas de seguridad para el partido Colombia – Uruguay (Bogota Humana)
