RWC fans trusted to behave with beer cans

Plastic cups will not be used to serve beer in at Rugby World Cup matches. Photo / Getty Images

Rugby World Cup organisers have settled on a deal to allow beer to be served in cans at matches during the tournament, despite initial opposition from police and Police Minister Judith Collins.

Police pushed for beer to be served in plastic cups to minimise the risk of them being used as missiles by intoxicated fans, but it is understood there was also opposition to that from principal sponsor, Heineken.

Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully told Radio New Zealand the stakeholders in next year's tournament had discussed the issue of how to serve beer, and tried to "steer a middle course" while allowing for cans to be served.

The way forward was to put some trust in people who would be paying a lot of money for tickets, and give police the capacity to deal with the minority who may step out of line.

Mr McCully said arranging tap beer facilities would have been costly for nine of the 13 stadia which didn't already have such facilities.

He was confident fans would want to make the most of a unique experience in attending rugby World Cup matches and not risk being thrown out because of intoxicated behaviour.

If fans did step out of line, police would have enhanced capability to deal with them, he said.

Ms Collins said she had considered the proposal to allow the sale of beer in cans and was now comfortable with the arrangement.

- NZPA