It appears Russia was not at all prepared for the amount of beer that soccer hooligans require for the World Cup. According to reports, some bars and restaurants in the Russian capital of Moscow are already running low on their beer supply and have to wait longer than usual for fresh supplies.
One waiter revealed that his upscale eatery in central Moscow ran out of draft lager on Monday and deliveries are taking at least 24 hours because suppliers' stocks are already running low.
“We just didn’t think they would only want beer,” said one waiter, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of scaring off future customers, at an upscale eatery in central Moscow.
“There are really a lot of people in Moscow … and they are all drinking,” he said. “It’s hot, and it’s football.”
According to reports, beer sales in Russia have plummeted by around a third over the past decade, as duties have risen and rules been tightened on sales and advertising, and brewers hadn't been expecting a major reversal of the trend this year.
Dmitry, a barman at trendy courtyard bar Gogol, said visiting fans had drunk more than 211 gallons of beer in three days, downing the cheap lager before moving on to more expensive bottled beers. Gogol was reportedly taking three deliveries on Tuesday to replenish supplies.
"The sun makes them thirsty," he said of his customers. "In Russian we say 'to the bottom!' I like that these guys are embracing our culture."