Mirror readers debate whether or not authorities ought to elevate ban on soccer followers consuming within the stands
A 40-year ban on drinking alcohol in the stands on matchdays could soon be lifted after Andy Burnham argued football fans are unfairly ‘singled out’ compared to other sports
A 40-year ban on drinking in the stands on matchdays could soon be lifted(Image: Getty Images)
Football fans could soon be able to enjoy a pint in the stands again after the Prime Minister outlined plans to look again at the alcohol ban.
Drinking in view of a pitch on matchdays has been outlawed in league football across England and Wales since 1985, under measures introduced by Margaret Thatcher‘s government during the peak of the hooliganism crisis.
But Andy Burnham has repeatedly spoken out against to the restrictions, and said shortly before he became Prime Minister that he believed football fans are unfairly “singled out” compared to other sports.
Now in Number 10, he is set to re-evaluate the ban – reigniting the debate over whether alcohol should be permitted on the terraces.
‘It’s unfair to criminalise football fans – you can have a drink at an Oasis gig in the same stadium’
Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters’ Association, said: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.
“Many clubs are in favour as well. WSL and WSL2 ran a successful pilot, meaning fans can now drink in the stands at many grounds, while the EFL has long supported a trial. We welcome the prime minister’s comments and totally agree that the legislation is outdated and deserves to be reviewed.”
A fan-led review of football governance in 2021 suggested piloting alcohol sales on terraces in League Two and National League games to help lower league clubs boost their coffers. Pilots have been carried out in the women’s game but not for men’s matches.
Ex-Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, who led the review, argued at the time that the law needed to be looked at. She told the Times: “Lots of clubs generate a lot of their income through their bars and I think it’s time to look at this issue again. We do have this bizarre situation where you can go to Headingley and drink as a cricket fan, but go to Elland Road and you can’t drink as a football fan.
“We kettle people into drinking quickly at half-time. And that is the unhealthy aspect of the football fan’s relationship with alcohol. They drink a lot in a short space of time. So my recommendation is to pilot this and not have to down a pint at half-time.”
‘There is a clear link between football, alcohol and poor behaviour – we don’t see the same in other sports’
Police chiefs fear relaxing the law could fuel disorder. Mark Roberts, the head of UK Football Policing, said previously: “Anyone who frequents the night-time economy will know that unfortunately the UK often has an unhealthy relationship with drink and drugs, and so whilst this isn’t a problem unique to football there is a clear correlation in and around football between alcohol and poor behaviour.”
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, but we have seen growing concerns in cricket, horse racing and rugby around alcohol and behaviour which have led to some venues taking counter-measures.”
