thirsty work

サッカー欧州ナンバーワンを決めるEURO2012が始まります。イギリス人にとって，サッカーの試合を観戦することはthirsty work「のどの渇く肉体労働」であるようです（『ジーニアス英和辞典』第４版，大修館書店）。ここでのthirsty workはのどを枯らすほどの声援を送るという意味と，渇望するほど楽しみにしているという意味の２つがかけられていると思います。（Sugiuchi）

And it appears most armchair supporters are likely to indulge in a takeaway to make sure they do not miss a single minute of the action.
According to Freeview's Summer on the Sofa report, a whopping 73 million-plus meals could be ordered during the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
Chinese is the top choice for the Euros, with 53 per cent of those surveyed opting for a dish of this type during matches.
Pizza was the second most popular, followed by Indian and fish 'n chips.
Watching football is also thirsty work and over 40 million pints a day are likely to be consumed during the tournament, with British men drinking on average a pint and a half on a daily basis.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/euro2012/4361952/Research-suggests-football-fans-will-be-ordering-takeaways-galore-during-Euro-2012.html