Although the project to release alcoholic beverages at SP Stadium progresses, Tarcisio’s base is divided and complaints to the police occur.

The idea of ​​the committee’s chairman, Danilo Campetti (Republican), is to bring the matter to a vote in about two weeks, after the rapporteur Felipe Franco (Labor Union) compiles the changes to the PL written by Olim delegates (Progressives).

The original text incorporates ideas discussed by a working group made up of the state government, prosecutor’s office, public defender’s office, civil service and military police, including limiting alcohol content to 14%, banning alcohol at youth games, and requiring fixed sales points.

However, GLOBO has revealed that lawmakers intend to further tighten regulations that only allow the sale of beer, excluding distilled beverages. An exception could be inside the cabin, but that point is not yet defined.

The management of Tarcisio de Freitas does not wish to be named as the creator of the project, even though it was part of a working group operating within Palacio dos Bandeirantes, and has avoided commenting on the subject. One of the reasons was the methanol crisis, which even “cooled down” the debate among lawmakers.

There is no opposition to the project, especially among police who work on the front lines and know firsthand the effects of alcohol on the bodies and moods of fans, as there is no point in “putting them at the point of a knife,” says a military police officer in the reserve. Officials say the document is of interest to the government and needs to be passed among MPs, so the idea is to put in as many barriers as possible, such as lowering the strength of the drinks.

Fernanda Hervera, head of the Special Tourism Support Division of the São Paulo Civil Police (Deatur), took part in Tuesday’s committee meeting and said that there is a need to stipulate the end time of drinks sales, especially in order not to disrupt the flow of public visitors from the stadium.

— When a lawmaker approves a law, it is important that several points be observed. Will drinks continue to be available? Supervision is also very important. How would that be done and who would be the responsible authority? — Harbela asked lawmakers.

Gendarmerie Major Bardinei Arcandio, deputy commander of the 2nd Assault Police Battalion responsible for police operations at the stadium, who was also present at the meeting, said future projects must ensure that criminals are swiftly punished.

“Anyone who commits something under the influence of alcohol needs to be held accountable for their actions,” the official said, stressing that the prime minister directly monitors the 7 million fans in São Paulo’s stadiums each year.

The sports commission’s choice to handle the project caused consternation among some MPs in the government stronghold. Some believe it would be more consistent for the issue to be handled by the Public Safety and Prisons Commission. This decision was taken by Aresp President Andre de Prado (PL) and other leaders.

The author of this project, Delegate Olim (PP), is actually part of the second group, not the first. Some in the group believe this may be a strategy to promote approval, as documents have been circulating among public safety lawmakers showing that incidents at stadiums have declined significantly since the 1990s.

—Personally, there are some limitations,—says Vice-Major Mecca (PL), chairman of the safety committee and a member of the 2nd Shock Police Battalion. — Within the Prime Minister, who is responsible for security at sports venues, people disagree and are demanding compensation related to the controls.

Mecca says the sale of beverages could even have an impact on traffic accidents, as it prevents people drinking during games and driving home drunk. The issue will become even more delicate if teams from inland and coastal São Paulo are involved.

Other MPs said they had advised government officials not to support changes to the law and predicted Tarcisio could be forced to withdraw given the increasing number of incidents inside stadiums since his release.

The evangelical benches disagree with this as well, as Olim himself admits.

This is not the first time this issue has been on the agenda in São Paulo. Aresp approved the sale of beer in arenas in 2019, but then-governor João Doria vetoed the provision, prompting criticism from the São Paulo Football Federation and clubs, which were interested not only in sales revenue but also in brand advertising. The former governor still opposes the release even if only beer sales were allowed.

– There are no restrictions on excessive drinking inside or outside the stadium – Doria told GLOBO last month. — People who want to drink and have fun should do so at home, in bars, restaurants, clubs, or other places where the influence of alcohol does not create hostile or violent behavior.

But lawmakers who have expressed reluctance toward this topic understand that it will happen within days and that they must work to limit the damage. One proposal is to require clubs to pay for security inside their stadiums. This already existed in São Paulo, but was overturned by the courts.

The Supreme Court of the Union (STF) recently considered this position and declared that it is valid to charge preventive security fees for commercial private events such as concerts and soccer matches, as long as there is a proven need for additional enforcement.

Club membership fees are expected to be discussed separately, meaning they will not be included in the final report. State deputy Carla Morando (PSDB) has called for change, but no agreement has been reached. She can try to approve highlights in the plenary session or present new PLs.