Drinking in stands to be trialled in selected football matches in England
Today at 01:05 PM
Drinking in the stands is coming to football stadiums in England, but only in the women's game.
The CEO of the Women's Professional League's Limited announced that trials will take place in the second-tier Barclays Women's Championship this season.
Nikki Doucet revealed: “We are testing that actually in a couple of teams in the Championship this season and we’ll see what we learn from that.
“I think our fan base and the behaviour is different [to the men’s game], and I think ultimately it’s about being able to give our fans choices, while obviously maintaining the safety and what we need to do in terms of being responsible.”
Alcohol is allowed in concourse areas, but not within sight of the pitch in the top five leagues of men's football in England.
The rule also applies to the women's game, but will be reviewed and could be changed should this season's pilot be successful.
A similar scheme was pitched for the men's game in 2022, but was dismissed by the UK's football policing lead, Mark Roberts.
“I see no evidence base for it, I don’t see a massive clamour for it,” he commented.
“I think the situation we’ve got is perfectly acceptable and I remain absolutely opposed to any relaxation of alcohol in football.”
The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act of 1985 outlawed the consumption of alcohol within view of the playing area.
The German Bundesliga permits the consumption of alcohol on terraces, but that rule was modified for the summer's Euro 2024 tournament.
The Foreign Office warned England and Scotland fans about stronger beer in Germany, and UK police chief Peter Both then confirmed that rules would be different to Bundesliga matches.
"In contrast to the league match, we have agreed that alcoholic drinks purchased in the stadium may not be taken into the stadium," he said at the time.
"This means that they cannot, as is usually the case, buy two carriers of beer and then take them to their seats.
"They are only allowed to consume alcoholic drinks at the stands."
