I spent my birthday in Italy for the 1990 World Cup, and I was unable to buy an alcoholic drink.

It wasn’t that I was too young to order one, but because the Italian authorities had banned booze in the stadiums and nearby bars on game days to prevent the kind of hooliganism that was shaming the sport in Europe at the time.

The beautiful game had become tarnished by the ugly behavior of a small minority of violent thugs.

Cities like Rome, Milan and Cagliari—where England, the team with the most troublesome fans, was based—chose to make game-day sales of beer, wine and spirits illegal.

Understandably, restaurateurs and bar owners weren’t happy. Not even in wartime was there a problem in Rome with drunks, they argued. Not even in ancient Rome when the wine was flowing. The Romans were even more incensed when the fountains were turned off to prevent supporters from diving in.

Food and drinks sales on World Cup match days in the Eternal City were down by 85 percent. I had to make do with a Coca-Cola with my pasta before England’s third-place match in Bari (losing 2-1 to Italy).

There was very little hooliganism, and fans poured into Italy from around the globe for what is generally regarded as one of the great World Cup tournaments. Not so much for the soccer, but certainly for the welcome. The Italian government and the organizing committee had taken a controversial decision to protect the great majority of fans while accepting that its businesses would take a hit.

It wasn’t about money. It was for the common good.

Now the world’s eyes are on the United States, and the president is already proclaiming it as a great success based on the sales of........

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