London - While England fans travelling to the Euros have been advised to leave any high expectations at home, the French and UK governments have also issued a number of more serious warnings.
With the French police expecting up to 500 000 Britons to travel to the tournament, British police have been sent to France to act as “cultural interpreters” and help their French counterparts uphold the new rules.
Swimming at Marseilles' beach, for example, will be banned from 7pm to 5am throughout the tournament. During this time, nets will be deployed to prevent inebriated fans from drowning.
The French government is also doing its utmost to prevent rowdy behaviour. Fans displaying drunken behaviour will not be allowed into any of the stadiums.
The public consumption of alcohol will also be prohibited. Fans travelling to England's match against Wales on Thursday, 16 June will not be able to drink alcohol on the streets of Lens between 6am on the Thursday to 6am the following day. The same rule will be applied to every game in Lens.
Given the small size of Lens, officials have also warned ticketless supporters not to travel the northern city. Organisers have also cautioned that unofficial tickets may hinder supporters from entering a stadium. Ticket-holders should carry photographic ID with them matches the name on the ticket.
After the terror attacks of last November, fans have been warned to expect numerous security checks. The UK Foreign Office has warned that there is a “high threat from terrorism” within the stadiums, and supporters should be “vigilant at all times”.
Due to the potential terror threat, large bags will not be allowed into the stadium. The French police will also prohibit luggage being taken into the fan zone in the centre of Paris.
Fans driving to France have received a number of additional pieces of advice. Given the swathes of strikes that have recently taken place in France, the RAC has warned drivers to fill their petrol tanks before travelling. “Ideally, you should have enough fuel to get you comfortably to your destination,” a spokesman said.
“It's vital you go in search of fuel well before you need it and accept delays and rationing.”
uSwitch has encouraged driving supporters to be aware of the differences between UK and French driving laws. Only 17 percent of UK drivers realise that they need to carry a breathalyser in their car while driving in France. Drivers will also need headline beam converters to avoid breaking French Law.
Importantly, the risk of being charged with drink driving is significantly higher in France. While the drink driving limit in the UK is 0.8 milligrams per millilitre, in France it is 0.5mg per ml.
The Independent