Inside the future of drinking at Scottish football as pilot success fuels rule change bid

Scottish Sun

15-07-2025

We take a behind-the-scenes look at the pilot to return booze to Scottish football for the first time in 44 years
CHEERS Inside the future of drinking at Scottish football as pilot success fuels rule change bid
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FOR the first time in 44 years fans were able to enjoy a cold beer at the footie at the weekend.
The pints were flowing at two Scottish fixtures, Arbroath vs St Mirren and Stirling Albion vs Hamilton, while other clubs, including Queen of the South and Ayr United, will be involved in future trial games.
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Pints were flowing at the weekend as the booze trial got underway
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Arbroath fans enjoyed a drink on Saturday ahead of their match against St Mirren
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Brian Caldwell says it's time for a roll-out - to benefit safety & club income
Now, as organisers cheer the success of the pilot, sports bosses are urging the SPFL to get the booze ban lifted at clubs throughout the country.
Motherwell chief executive Brian Caldwell says it's a no-brainer for safety and club income.
The footie boss, who formerly headed up Shrewsbury Town in England, said: 'I think we should be trying to roll this out and do more and more.
'I've worked in England in the EFL and down south it's commonplace, everybody is able to buy a drink.
'People are concerned about it causing disorder, but actually I totally disagree.
'I think having everybody in a segregated area where they can drink is actually safer, because we can control it.'
The ban on drinking at football matches has been in place since 1981, introduced after the infamous Hampden pitch battle between Celtic and Rangers fans after the 1980 Scottish Cup final.
But recently, the debate over whether or not it should be lifted has grown ever more fierce.
And on Saturday, supporters at Arbroath's Gayfield Park got wristbands for a fan zone where they could buy pints pre-match between 11am to 2.45pm, and then until 7.30pm afterwards.
Brian, who has been working in the game for more than 30 years, said this style of pop-up works as it segregates rival fans.
Euro 2024 highlights as the Tartan Army lit up Germany
He said: 'People are still going for a drink on matchdays.
'They're going to local pubs, which might not be right beside the stadium, so they're having as many pints as they possibly can and then walking to the stadium. This way, you've actually got more chance of disorder because everybody is mixing.
'Whereas actually having everybody in a segregated area, which is the way it works in England, makes absolute sense to me.
'I believe it's improving the matchday experience for everybody.'
Brian can't understand why there is one rule for fans south of the border — where stadium drinking is legal — and another for those in Scotland.
Brian added: 'It makes no sense — England has got a history of disorder yet there's never been any impact on clubs being able to sell alcohol.
'We need to increase the numbers in Scotland and show that this can work. There's generations of people who have never been able to drink at the football.'
The footie chief exec also thinks it must be baffling for overseas supporters who come to Scottish games.
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The Scottish Sun's Sports Reporter Ben Ramage went behind the scenes of the new pilot
Credit: Willie Vass
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Scotland fans had a great time during the Euros in Germany - where supporters could take drink to their seats
Credit: AP
He said: 'You look at the Scotland fans going over to Germany last year, everybody had a good time. And you could take a drink to your seat in Germany.
'We're playing Berlin in a couple of weeks in a pre-season friendly. And I'm actually concerned about the supporters coming over, who are used to being able to drink in the stadiums.
'You're actually not really welcoming people to Scottish football when you're bringing people from abroad that can't have a drink.'
As well as potentially attracting more supporters from further afield, Brian reckons it will bring in a much-needed revenue stream for clubs.
Brian added: 'For me safety is the biggest benefit — but finance is important too. Scottish football clubs of our size struggle for cash.
"And why should the local pubs benefit from us having a home game every week?'
Iain Emerson, founder and editor of the Famous Tartan Army Magazine, agrees and says we have to make our grounds attractive to keep pulling punters in, especially when sports like rugby already allow stadium drinking.
He said: 'You've got to make the product as inviting as possible and there's so many other attractions for people now, other things they can spend their hard-earned money on, and so it should be an equal playing field when it comes to sporting events.'
RIOT LED TO BAN
THE booze ban was introduced in 1981 following the 1980 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.
Celtic beat Rangers in extra time. At full time, fans from both sides swarmed onto the pitch. An investigation by the SFA found the initial pitch invasion was 'a spontaneous, if misguided, expression of joy'.
But it quickly became violent, with bricks and bottles hurled and wood from terracing frames used as weapons.
Both clubs were fined £20,000 over the debacle and more than 200 people were arrested. Excessive drinking was blamed for much of the trouble.
A law banning alcohol sales in Scottish sports grounds was passed.
This was relaxed some years later for rugby matches at Murrayfield.
And Iain added: 'It would be really good for fans to be treated as fans of other sports are, to be trusted like rugby fans already are.
'I think it would be really good for the supporters who are following their teams to be treated fairly and with a bit of respect.
'And it shouldn't just be for hospitality where, if you pay a lot of money, you can have a drink and a meal when the average fan has been denied that opportunity.'
The Scots football expert also says we have to balance things out with our neighbours down south.
He said: 'It's not an equal playing field for Scottish clubs at the moment compared to our neighbours in England, where they've got a much bigger sponsorship and a lot more money coming in.
'We should be doing absolutely everything to promote our game and to promote a nice environment for supporters to go to.'
Hamish Husband, from the Association of Tartan Army Clubs, added: 'I look forward to the success of the introduction of alcohol into the stadia and foresee a future where it's available for most games.'