Should football fans be allowed to drink in the stands? Yahoo readers have their say
Beer and football fans are a common sight in stadiums in countries such as Germany, but a prohibition has been in place in English football for the past 40 years.
And that is unlikely to change any time soon, after calls from the Conservatives to consult on the alcohol ban in football stands were rejected by the government.
Shadow sport minister Louie French said the modern game now enjoys a "more family-friendly atmosphere" and criticised the current system that "sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time, this often leads to the fans being delayed entering the stadiums and overcrowding on the concourses."
Sports minister Stephanie Peacock said moves to reverse the prohibition, which has been in place since 1985, do not fall within the scope of the Football Governance Bill, which is poised to become law.
MPs voted by 346 to 167, majority 179, against a consultation on ending the stadium alcohol ban across the top five tiers of men's football in England.
In our poll earlier this week, Yahoo News UK asked our readers: "Should football fans be allowed to drink in the stands?" It received 1,052 votes and showed a clear majority - 70% - are against it.
The poll's Have Your Say feature attracted some passionate comments, with many readers focusing on the potential for trouble in the stands.
Nicola H, from Devon, said: "Alcohol and football are a toxic mix."
Similarly, Gareth M, from Neath, said: "Alcohol should be kept away from the field area. I am an ex-safety steward with Swansea City and I have seen what happens... when [fans are] drunk, the trouble can start."
On the other hand, David B, from Portsmouth, wondered if a ban on drinking in the stands is futile, saying: "I do not think they should be allowed to drink inside the ground/stadium. But there is a very good chance of them getting tanked up before they enter, so which is the less of the two evils?"
And David E, who lives in France, asked: "Will it also be prohibited at high-end horse race meetings and motor racing circuits?"
There is a very good chance of fans getting tanked up before they enter, so which is the less of the two evils?
Yahoo's poll is broadly similar to the findings of a 2022 YouGov survey, which asked 3,297 Britons the same question about drinking in the stands.
In YouGov's poll, 63% opposed this, with 25% in favour of allowing it.
Meanwhile, Yahoo News UK readers were also asked: "How much does the bad behaviour of football fans concern you?"
This poll received 270 votes, with the most common vote being 10 and an average strength-of-feeling score of 6.68, showing a majority of readers consider football disorder an issue.
Read more of Yahoo UK's Poll of the Week articles
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