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Colombian cities banning motorcycles and alcohol sales on World Cup matchdays

Colombian cities banning motorcycles and alcohol sales on World Cup matchdays

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There were nine celebration-related deaths in Colombia after the country's 3-0 win over Greece to start the World Cup, prompting local governments in several major cities to institute strict regulations on matchdays. Like 24-hour bans on alcohol sales and motorcycle use.

The AP reports that the capital city of Bogota and others will continue bans on alcohol sales for Colombia's round of 16 match against Uruguay, while motorcycle bans are also gaining in popularity.

Mayor David Castillo of Cucuta, a provincial capital bordering Venezuela, barred unaccompanied minors from the streets that day. He added a new measure for Saturday.

"We are also going to ban motorcycles," he said by phone. "There will be 60,000 motorcycles out of circulation, so there will be no convoys (mobs), and that way we'll avoid people throwing flour - and accidents."

Cartagena, Cali and Pereira were among major cities also imposing motorcycle bans.

These measures first started to be instituted for Colombia's second match against the Ivory Coast, which had two celebration-related deaths. As the precautions continued to spread, the final group-stage match against Japan only had one celebration-related death. With any luck, the match against Uruguay will result in no deaths and maybe even the conception of several thousand new lives.