Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – KU Leuven ended the Belgian Beer Mile Championship after 10 years on its Heverlee campus, citing alcohol policy. Organiser Maximilien Monteyne regrets the decision and is seeking a new location.
As VRT News reported, the Belgian Beer Mile Championship will no longer take place on the KU Leuven sports campus in Heverlee. KU Leuven has now decided to stop hosting the event. The university stated that it no longer fits with its current health and safety policy. Alcohol-related activities are not allowed under the updated rules for campus events.
What led KU Leuven to end the Belgian Beer Mile after 10 years?
The organisers are seeking a new venue to host the championship. Many runners say they will continue the competition elsewhere.
“Exercise and drinking don’t really mix, we know that,”
says Maximilien Monteyne, one of the organisers.
“Those who participate in the Beer Mile are usually very athletic. The event was actually initiated by triathletes. They drink little to no alcohol 364 days a year, but at the end of the season, they can relax a bit. And even then, they still want to run.”
“KU Leuven and the city of Leuven are more committed than ever to responsible alcohol consumption. An event like the Beer Mile on the athletics track of our sports campus no longer fits into those plans.”
KU Leuven
Organiser Monteyne said he regrets KU Leuven’s decision to stop hosting the Belgian Beer Mile Championship on its sports campus. He explained that the organisers were ready to work with the university to promote a clear and responsible message about alcohol use.
“Although I understand that KU Leuven has a role to play in setting an example, we were genuinely willing to think together about how to convey a responsible message. So I think it’s a shame that we didn’t actually get that opportunity,”
he said.
“For about five years now, participants have been able to choose to drink non-alcoholic beer,”
says Monteyne.
“I insisted on that, because I hardly ever drink alcohol myself. But making the event alcohol-free for all participants isn’t really feasible. Then we’d no longer be included in the world rankings, and a Belgian Championship wouldn’t be very worthwhile. Besides, only participants get beer from us; spectators don’t.”
The organisers are now reviewing how to continue the event in the future. They want to keep the championship enjoyable and accessible to the public while ensuring it meets safety rules.
“That’s why we ask participants to come in their most playful outfits,”
says Monteyne
“If I’m honest, I think a lot more alcohol goes down the drain at the average staff party or annual fair,”
says the organiser.
“Four beers, one per round, we think that’s perfectly acceptable.”
Monteyne said the main goal remains to create a fun and friendly competition. Despite losing the campus venue, the team plans to move forward and find a new location. For the organisers, the Belgian Beer Mile is not just about running and beer, but about community spirit and keeping a well-known Belgian sporting tradition alive.
In a written response, KU Leuven stated that it
“is more committed than ever, together with the city of Leuven, to responsible alcohol consumption. For example, the student association LOKO is responding strongly this October with a campaign offering free water in nightlife settings as part of its Drink Consciously campaign.”
“An event like the Beer Mile on the athletics track of our sports campus no longer fits into those plans. The organisers discussed replacing the beer with a non-alcoholic version, but unfortunately, this wasn’t possible,”
the university added.
The Belgian Beer Mile Championship started around 2012 on the athletics track at KU Leuven’s Arenberg sports campus in Heverlee. The event quickly became popular with runners and beer fans from across Belgium. Participants had to drink a 33-centilitre can of beer before each of the four laps, covering a total of 1,609 meters. It was held every year, usually in spring or early summer, and was known for its lively and friendly atmosphere.
