The Super Bowl is always the most watched television event every year. It’s a time for friends and family to get together, enjoy great food and watch football. The daily festivities have almost become an American holiday. The Super Bowl could feature two of the smallest market teams, yet the entire world will still be watching… even our troops stationed in Iraq.

General Order No. 1 banned U.S. forces from drinking alcohol in Iraq since troops deployed to the Middle East. However, and exception will be made for Super Bowl XLIII.

Multi-National Division–Baghdad has received permission to let its units enjoy an honest-to-goodness beer on game day instead of the near-beer soldiers usually quaff in downrange DFACs. The approval comes with plenty of time for the beer to be shipped into theater. Soldiers will be limited to two beers and are only allowed in the dining hall… where the soldiers can watch the game.

“You can relax more,” Spc. Chris Davis, a soldier with the 300th Military Police Company, said. “You can just relax with your comrades. Usually, we’re so stressed out not being able to do the stuff we get to do back in the States.”

It’s important to note that combat arms units will not be drinking – they can be called out at any time. The policy is intended for support units.

This news shows just how big the Super Bowl is becoming. It is no longer a single game played at the end of the season, but now a week-long event hyped up at the beginning of September. All sports fans look forward to the Super Bowl regardless if their team is playing.