Andy Burnham has described the ban on supporters drinking alcohol in the stands at men’s football matches as “discrimination”, arguing that it is not fair for football fans to be singled out. The prime minister said there is a case for removing the restriction and raised the possibility of a trial.
Laws in place since 1985 prevent drinking in view of the pitch at stadiums for clubs in the top five tiers of men’s football in England. Other sports do not face the same restriction. The legislation was introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government for English and Welsh football grounds, and at the time the then-Home Secretary Leon Brittan said alcohol was a “major contributory factor in violent and disorderly behaviour” at football grounds.
Speaking to reporters during a trip to the United Nations in New York, Burnham was asked whether his long-standing opposition to the restriction still stood now that he is in Downing Street. He replied: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different. And I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination. There are different ways it could be done. It could happen on a trial basis. But I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
Burnham is a keen football fan and a season-ticket holder at Premier League club Everton. Shortly before he became prime minister, he criticised the restriction while attending a rugby league game at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, where it was possible for supporters to have a drink in the stands.
Government sources are not ruling out a trial or pilot scheme to examine whether a change would be possible. However, any wider move would require extensive consultation involving football clubs, fans and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and none of that is currently planned.
The proposal has run into opposition from policing. A UK Football Policing Unit spokesman warned that changes to the law would pose “challenges” to policing and to the “safety of staff and fans at football games”. He said: “Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour. It would be irresponsible to fuel this by allowing greater alcohol consumption during games.” He added that it would be “incredibly rash to make fundamental changes without a full examination of the evidence and meaningful consultation with police practitioners who have the expertise in this area”. Police chiefs have said they would like to meet the prime minister to “explain the challenges”.
The Football Supporters’ Association said the “outdated” legislation should be reviewed. Its chairman, Tom Greatrex, said it was “unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league”. He said “many clubs” were in favour of a change, adding: “We welcome the prime minister’s comments and totally agree that the legislation is outdated and deserves to be reviewed.” A fan-led review of football governance in 2021 had already called for the law to be re-examined.
The rules have been relaxed this season in the women’s game, with all Women’s Super League clubs allowed to offer alcohol to supporters in the stands following two seasons of successful trials. The law is more restrictive in Scotland, where the general sale of alcohol has been prohibited in Scottish football stadiums since 1981, although trial sales have been taking place recently and fans can now buy alcohol at Hampden Park games.