No heavy beer sold near brawl

AN alcohol outlet behind a wild night-time brawl at GMHBA Stadium in July was not selling full-strength beer, it can be revealed.

It comes as footy fans have told the Geelong Advertiser a ban on full-strength beer in public areas at night events, introduced earlier this week, is not the most effective way to curb violent crowd behaviour.

Full-strength spirits will remain on sale at the stadium as officials look to crack down after a series of brawls at AFL games.

Father-of-three Stuart who attempted to break up a brawl on the Gary Ablett Terrace on July 21 said pre-loading fans was the main cause of violence at games.

“People drinking before the game and then coming into the ground is the real issue,” he said.

“Officials have to be seen to be doing something but I don’t think in the long run this (ban) will do much.”

Earlier this week AFLFA president Gerry Eeman called for better training of those serving alcohol at the footy and for a two-beer limit on sales.

“The onus really lies on really strong training of responsible serving of alcohol,” Mr Eeman said.

Last night the Geelong Football Club issued a statement confirming full-strength beer was not sold in an outlet behind the Gary Ablett Terrace.

But the club said fullstrength beer was sold in other public areas of the stadium that night.