Debate over allowing alcohol in football stands revived after Burnham comments
When UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham was in New York on a trip to the United Nations he reiterated his long-held view that the law preventing supporters from drinking alcohol at their seats during football matches is outdated. The current legal framework permits alcohol sales outside grounds and in concourses but prohibits consumption in seating areas.
Drinking at matches in England and Wales has been governed since 1985 by the Sporting Events Control of Alcohol Act, introduced amid rising disorder in previous decades; it covers clubs from the Premier League down to the National League and allows beer sales only in locations without a view of the pitch. Fans in the National League North and South and below can drink around the pitch, while Scotland has had a stricter law since 1981 that confines alcohol to hospitality areas after a riot at the 1980 Scottish Cup final at Hampden. The women's game in England has completed two seasons of trial sales and the rule preventing drinking in the stands has now been removed by WSL Football, because the women's competitions are not governed by the Sporting Events Control of Alcohol Act.
Burnham, an Everton supporter, restated his position publicly while in New York, saying: "I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination," and arguing football fans are singled out compared to those of other sports and events. There is no suggestion this is government policy at present: MPs rejected a Conservative amendment last year that would have forced ministers to launch a formal consultation on scrapping the rule, a development the article notes occurred "before Burnham returned to Downing Street."
Senior figures in the game have given mixed responses. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the competition had not "got a specific view" and "we'd need to give it some really careful thought", while the English Football League issued a statement saying it would be "receptive to discussions around reviewing the current legislation" and that member clubs had provided "a mandate to lobby for appropriate reform" which had "not kept pace with significant developments in stadium management, safety and stewarding". The UK Football Policing Unit rejected proposals to relax the law, arguing alcohol plays "a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour" and that "other sports simply don't see the violence and criminal behaviour" that football does.
The Football Supporters' Association has long supported a change, with chairman Tom Greatrex telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think it is outdated." Greatrex also said: "If you go to watch football in Germany or in other places around the world, then it's perfectly acceptable. "It is civilised and appropriate. There's no reason why that shouldn't be the case for football fans, as it is for fans of rugby league, watching Oasis, or anything else that happens often in the same stadiums in the same seats." The FSA argues clubs should decide in consultation with supporters whether to sell alcohol, possibly offering it in all stands, only in designated areas, or not at all, and notes clubs might copy other sports by providing alcohol-free sections for some families and supporters who do not consume alcohol because of their religion.
Policing objections draw on past warnings made before other changes to stadium arrangements. The article recalls that before safe standing was introduced four years ago Mark Roberts, national lead for football policing since 2014, told the BBC it would make it "easier to throw missiles, engage in hate chanting, racism, sneak alcohol in, take cocaine". Greatrex responded to that prior opposition by saying: "[The police] were telling everybody that we couldn't have standing at football again, that it would jeopardise safety, " and added: "Actually, what we saw then was a controlled, managed pilot projects to get that re-established. "He also said: "There hasn't been the level of disorder that some of the police sources were saying there would be. I think the police should have more of an open mind and engage in this in a sensible and mature way."
Supporters contacted by broadcasters expressed varied views. Dave, a Chelsea fan from Twickenham, told BBC Radio 5 Live he was "100% against it" and referenced footage from venues such as Boxpark, saying: "Have a look at some of the footage you see on social media at Boxpark, for instance. A goal goes in and there is beer and lager thrown everywhere," and "I don't want to go round stinking of other people's beer and there is a fashion among certain supporters to throw their beer everywhere. "He added: "If people can't go without drink for a 45-minute period there is something the matter with them." Adrian, from Leicester, called it the "worst idea you could come up with" and warned of existing problems including "flares, drug taking and other things." By contrast, Ryan, a Wolves fan in Banbury, favoured providing designated areas for drinking in stands as "a solution that suits everybody".
Scotland's pilot scheme last year has already led to staged roll-outs, with sales extended to Premiership clubs and the national team joining the trial for friendlies against Japan and Curacao earlier this year; the trial has been extended to games against Switzerland on 29 September and Slovenia next month. WSL clubs will provide alcohol at matches following their trials, and Scotland fans are to be allowed to buy alcohol at upcoming games, reflecting the specific next steps detailed in the source.
