A major change to football stadium alcohol rules could be introduced – if the Women’s Championship trial is a success. Championship sides Newcastle United, Southampton, Birmingham City and Bristol City will allow drinking at select games, but not derbies, from January 19 to the season’s end.
Nikki Doucet, of Women’s Professional League Ltd, has said: “I think our fan base and the behaviour is different. 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.”
Drinking alcohol within view of the pitch is banned in the top five tiers of men’s football over safety and public order concerns but women’s football is not bound by the rule. The ban could be lifted in the Women’s Super League if the trial, which is taking place at Bristol City, Southampton, Birmingham and Newcastle, is successful.
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In 2021, former sports minister Tracey Crouch recommended a review of the legislation to determine whether it remains fit for purpose, and allowing alcohol to be consumed at fourth and fifth-tier matches as part of a small-scale pilot scheme.
Since the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985 was introduced, alcohol is only permitted to be on general sale up to 15 minutes before kick-off and at half-time, with fans unable to consume alcohol in sight of the pitch.
The 1985 Act also made it an offence to: enter a football ground whilst drunk; take alcohol into a stadium; and consume alcohol on official transport to matches. Dr Richard Purves, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Social Marketing at the University of Stirling, said: “Any future discussion regarding the laws surrounding alcohol at football grounds, including the possibility of a pilot scheme, must be subjected to full independent academic evaluation, considering the longer-term implications of such normalisation and potential for higher consumption by fans.”