EM 2008: Viennese fan zones serve their own beer

 In Vienna, two fan zones will only serve local beer instead of beer from the official Uefa partner Carlsberg. As the two fan zones are not official fan zones in the eight so-called host cities, this is permitted. However, as the zones have screens with a diameter of more than three meters, they are considered Uefa fan areas. This means they are free to cooperate with other sponsors, but Uefa regulations prohibit any advertising presence of other beers on site. According to the SDA, Ottakringer beer will be available for four euros per half-liter in the public viewing zone on the Kaiserwiese near the Prater in Vienna, while beer will cost 3 euros 50 in the area in the BA-Halle in the Vienna Gasometer. "Due to the regulations, however, there will be no banners, lettering, logos or other branding from Ottakringer," announced Barbara Glowotschnig from event organizer IP-Media. The brewing company itself has been advertising with the slogan "unofficial fan beer" on its bottle labels and packaging cartons for some time. The soft drink range at the Prater also comes from the Coca-Cola Group, one of the main sponsors of the European Championships. The area offers space for 6000 football fans.