Alcohol at football: EFL clubs such as Sunderland and Ipswich want the ban at stadiums scrapped
The likes of Sunderland and Ipswich are calling for a 33-year-old law to be overturned so fans can enjoy a beer in their seats
Nine football league clubs are calling for a 33 year old law to be overturned so fans can drink alcohol in their seats.
Legislation introduced in 1985 prohibits supporters from consuming alcohol in view of the pitch, therefore restricting them to drinking in a stadium's concourse.
Clubs claim changing the law would result in:
- Fair treatment for football fans
- A better matchday experience for supporters
- Less binge drinking before matches and during half time
- Increased revenue for clubs
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are satisfied that existing legislation is necessary and appropriate.”
Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Doncaster Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Port Vale, Forest Green Rovers, Lincoln City, Tranmere Rovers and Northampton Town want a pilot scheme.
Grimsby Town, Newport County and Gillingham have also indicated they are open to a discussion.
The Football Supporters Federation is backing the calls. FSF Caseworker Amanda Jacks said: "When the laws were drafted they were a knee-jerk reaction to problems at the time. Nobody thought them through properly and certainly didn't foresee that in 2018 we would be talking about football fans being singled out from the rest of society."
A Home Office spokesperson added that football has "unique public order risks", going on to say "many incidents of football-related disorder are spontaneous, involving offenders who have consumed alcohol, often to excess."
For years the conversation included references to the Hillsborough disaster, after which police had blamed Liverpool supporters - and their consumption of alcohol - for the crush that killed 96 people.
But in 2012 the Hillsborough Independent Panel report exposed the truth: fans had been framed and alcohol played no part in the tragedy.
Influential Liverpool supporters podcast The Anfield Wrap told talkSPORT: "After everything we now know about the slurs and lies told over the Hillsborough disaster it is ridiculous that football fans are still stigmatised as essentially a feral underclass. How is it that the same person could sit in the same seat only a few days apart, one for a rugby match and then for a football match and have a drink at one and not the other?"
At rugby and cricket stadiums, such as Twickenham and Lord's, fans can enjoy alcohol whilst watching the sport.
But The Anfield Wrap has joined the clubs in highlighting a more obvious discrepancy: when rugby is played in a football stadium fans can drink in their seats, but when football is played in a football stadium they cannot.
This occurs during Rugby League's Magic Weekend, hosted at St James' Park since 2015, and the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.
It is also the case every week at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, which is shared by Doncaster Rovers F.C. and Doncaster R.L.FC.
Head of Stadium Operations, Marie Hepburn told talkSPORT: "Football has changed significantly since 1985. We don't see alcohol causing the level of problems that it used to. A blanket ban is disproportionate to the level of risk that we are now facing."
A parallel is drawn to the Licensing Act 2003, which extended pub opening times but .
Clubs believe preventing supporters from drinking in their seats causes many to consume alcohol at a quicker rate before kick off and at half time.
Marie Hepburn added: "Having a 15 minute window where they can get a drink causes massive queues. You also have the challenge of staff being able to manage that."
The fact it is illegal to drink in view of the pitch leads to "surreal" preventative measures, it is claimed.
At the away end of Stadium MK tarpaulins have been put up to block fans in the concourse seeing the match, while customers of the Holiday Inn in Norwich have been advised not to drink in their rooms because it is situated between the stands of Carrow Road.
In corporate hospitality boxes curtains are drawn to avoid a criminal offence being committed.
Smaller clubs feel changing the law could also generate valuable extra revenue.
Forest Green Rovers Chairman Dale Vince told talkSPORT: "I think there would be a degree of that, for sure. But I don't think the big benefits would be financial. I think they would be to the matchday experience."
No club said it wanted to keep the current legislation when contacted by talkSPORT. The Premier League offered no comment.
All clubs in favour of overturning the law believe a pilot scheme is the best way forward. Ideas include:
- Matches without a fierce rivalry
- Stands with easy access to the concourse
- Only during the first or second half
It is believed momentum will build quickly once the government concludes its review into safe standing, which is expected to recommend changing the law introduced in 1989 to allow standing areas.
The EFL, which has campaigned on the issue of safe standing, is also keen to see changes to alcohol regulations and has indicated it would approach the matter responsibly.
If the law regarding alcohol was changed clubs would still have the power to refuse entry to, or eject, someone who was drunk.
In Scotland there is a total ban on consuming alcohol within a football stadium due to a 1980 law brought in after violence at the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers.
James Kelly MSP told talkSPORT: “I was actually at that game and I remember the trouble. I know the amount of alcohol contributed to it so I can understand why the alcohol ban was introduced.”
There was a mixed reaction when the Scottish Labour party proposed overturning the legislation in the run up to the 2015 General Election.
The Great British Beer and Pub Association is also urging caution. Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds said pubs next to stadiums could close: “That is possible. I wouldn't want their viability undermined by allowing people to drink in the stands.”
Alcohol consumption across the UK has fallen 18 per cent since 2004.
Simmonds, formerly Director at Leicester City, believes this should prompt a grown up conversation about alcohol and football.
“I don't think we should be afraid to talk about this. Football has changed out of all recognition in the last twenty years. I don't think this is something we want to rush into but I don't see any reason why there shouldn't be more flexibility for clubs.”
The FA told talkSPORT it would discuss the idea with other football authorities "if clubs were in favour of change".
