London Olympics organisers have defended the price of food and drink at the 2012 Games after it emerged that spectators will be charged more than £7 for a pint of beer.
A 330ml bottle of Heineken, the only lager that can be served at the Games under the Dutch brewer's exclusive sponsorship deal, will cost £4.20 – the equivalent of £7.23 a pint, according to sample menus for ticketholders. This costs more than double the national average for a pint of £3.17, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.
A 500ml bottle of Coca Cola will cost £2.30 while the brand's bottled water – the only one on sale – will cost £1.80. A cup of tea will cost £2, coffee £2.60, and an 18.7cl bottle of wine £4.80. Although ticketholders cannot bring their own water through security, they are allowed to carry empty bottles and fill them from free drinking fountains.
London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton denied the cost of food and drink was excessive. He said: "We believe that our prices are more than comparable to those found at other major sporting events, which because of their temporary nature are often more expensive than the high street."
London 2012 said that a family of four should be able to buy food and drinks for under £40. They expect to serve up to 14m meals across 40 locations during the Games, with up to 150 dishes on offer.
London 2012 sponsors Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Cadbury Nature Valley and Heineken will be supplying food and drink and will provide the only branded products on sale.
Fast food giant McDonald's will have four restuarants at Olympic venues. These will be based at the athletes' village, the main press centre and two in the Olympic Park for spectators.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2012
