Beer and football belong together in Great Britain, but also in the stadium? / Picture: APA / AFP / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS
In the English professional leagues, football fans could soon be able to drink their beer on the pitch again after a 36-year break. First, the measure should be tested in a pilot project in the fourth and fifth leagues, said former sports state secretary and Conservative MP Tracey Crouch of the newspaper “The Times”. Skeptical requests to speak followed promptly. The police chief for football affairs described the initiative as “irresponsible”.
In the top five leagues in England, spectators have been banned from drinking alcohol on the field since 1985. With this measure, the government and clubs wanted to get the rampant hooligan problem under control. In many stadiums, however, there is beer at stalls inside, and numerous fans sit in nearby pubs until just before kick-off. Fan organizations have repeatedly criticized the ban on consumption at the square as out of date.
“More alcohol consumption is irresponsible”
Football Police Chief Mark Roberts said: “Unfortunately we have seen that alcohol often plays a significant role in violent and disorderly football behavior.” The level of administrative offenses is already worrying – Roberts mentioned attacks on stewards and hate crimes in relation to the Guardian. “It would be irresponsible to fuel this by allowing more alcohol during the games.”
Crouch, on the other hand, referred to clubs like Dulwich Hamlet when it came to alcohol. The London sixth division make a lot of sales with beverages – this will break away if the club moves up to the fifth division, where beer consumption is prohibited on the pitch. “They frankly told us they couldn't afford to move up because of the drinking rules,” said Crouch. In addition, many fans would drink a lot of alcohol in a short time because of the ban. “So my recommendation is to steer this so that no one has to dump their pint at half time,” said Crouch.
It would be the second time in a short period of time that decade-old bans have been repealed in English football. It was only on Wednesday that the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, which is responsible for safety in football stadiums, announced that the clubs in the top two leagues will be able to offer a limited number of standing places from January 1, 2022 under certain conditions.
