Mexico City officials said they are considering measures to restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages in public spaces after more than 700,000 people gathered in the city center to celebrate the national soccer team's advance to the World Cup knockout round.
Mexico's victory over South Korea sparked a massive street party, with fans wearing green El Tri jerseys or colorful Lucha Libre masks, dancing in the rain, waving flags, singing the national anthem, and blowing vuvuzelas.
The next morning, Reforma Avenue—one of the city's main thoroughfares—was littered with trash, including many trampled yellow cempasuchil flowers. Authorities collected about 40 tons of waste around the historic center area.
Mexico City government secretary Cesar Cravioto said at a press conference on Friday that part of the government's responsibility in such a major soccer event is prevention, including controlling illegal street sales of alcohol.
Cravioto said authorities will require restaurants and bars in the area to prevent customers from taking alcoholic drinks outside, while nearby convenience stores may be ordered to stop selling alcohol during hours leading up to big matches.
Officials also announced plans to install seven more large screens around the center (in addition to 12 existing ones) to disperse crowds, and will deploy more staff to limit beer sales by street vendors.
"We will continue to emphasize that fans can have fun but not consume excessive alcohol," Cravioto said.
In Boston, another World Cup host city, Scottish fans—known as the "Tartan Army"—drank massive amounts of beer after Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 at the city stadium, leading many bars to report running out of beer.
Mexico will face the Czech Republic in the group stage next Wednesday.
