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Tadic Fined for Champagne Toast
Belgrade | 08 December 2009 | Bojana Barlovac
Serbian President Boris Tadic, Minister of Youth and Sport Snezana Samardzic Markovic and President of Belgarde's Assembly Aleksandar Antic have to pay a 40,000 dinar (about 430 euros) fine each for toasting with champagne Serbia's victory over Romania in a recent World Cup qualifier.
President of the Belgrade Municipal Court for violations Zoran Pasalic said the court's decision has been sent to the participants and will enter into force eight days after its reciept, in case no one appeal on it in the meantime.
Serbian police filed a lawsuit against the three state officials on 16 October for violating the Law on the Prevention of Violence and Inappropriate Behaviour at Sporting Events.
They were all charged with toasting Serbia's football victory over Romania with champagne. Football stadiums are not licensed premises for alcohol consumption, so the toast was illegal.
The minimum fine for drinking alcohol at sporting events is 30,000 dinars (about 320 euros) while the maximum 50,000 dinars (about 540 euros). If the perpetrator has no money to pay the fine, it can be commuted to 60 days imprisonment.
According to the law, if the president and his allies a sporting event with alcohol once again, they will be banned from attending further matches.
2009-12-08 23:31:32