Two in three fans back the return of alcohol in grounds

Survey finds most supporters in favour of pilot scheme on sales

A FANS’ group is pushing for a trial re-introduction of alcohol sales in Scottish football grounds as it emerged two in three backed a pilot scheme.

Supporters Direct Scotland (SDS) is asking the Scottish Football Association, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government about the possibility of introducing bars in stadiums after the backing of supporters was revealed in their survey of fans’ attitudes.

It comes as part of SDS’s desire to see supporters more central to the decision-making processes in Scottish football, with a more “customer focused” approach to “the game we love” from police and stewarding.

Their Scottish Football Supporters Survey, aimed at giving fans a say on the issues surrounding the beautiful game, found 67 per cent were in favour of a controlled pilot scheme to consider the reintroduction of alcohol in a responsible manner.

The study involving nearly 14,500 fans also found that ticket prices were seen as the biggest factor in influencing a supporter’s decision over whether to attend a game.

Two in three fans felt tickets currently represented either poor or very poor value, with just 4.54 per cent believing it was good value. It also found that 73 per cent felt greater education of the issues of sectarianism, racism, sexism and homophobia within Scottish football was required.

Drink was banned at football games in the aftermath of the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers, which saw rival fans battling on the field and police on horseback trying to diffuse the trouble.

The trouble was widely attributed to the volume of alcohol consumed by fans.

Alcohol can only be served in corporate hospitality areas of foot- ball stadiums in Scotland. But alcohol consumption south of the Border has been allowed on the concourse up to 15 minutes before kick-off since 1985, and many clubs in England sell drink at half-time.

In 2007, the Scottish Government lifted a 25-year-old ban for international rugby matches at Murrayfield, allowing fans to drink throughout the game, and not just at half-time.

But the Scottish Government said last month that decisions were informed by the police and that there were no plans to remove the existing restrictions on alcohol at football matches.

Andrew Jenkin, head of SDS, said: “While it is something supporters want to see it comes with risks as well, which is why we are asking for a safe pilot project to test the waters. Football is the only sport where you are not allowed to drink and it works for rugby, or you could be watching a [football] game in England and are able to have a drink, so why is Scottish football treated so differently.

“It does seem unfair and we want to see more fairness brought to Scottish football.”