OtherEnds 25 Sept 22h 19m left
Should the law banning alcohol in football stands (Sporting Events Act 1985) be scrapped?
The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 bans possession and consumption of alcohol in sight of the pitch at designated football grounds in England and Wales during top-tier men's matches. Introduced to tackle 1980s hooliganism, the law allows sales but requires drinking in concourses out of view. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently called the restriction outdated and discriminatory compared to other sports, suggesting a trial to repeal it.
2 Opinions
The law was a response to the Taylor report post Hillsborough, which was distorted by Police and officials perjuring themselves. It’s an injustice that should be rectified.
All it achieves is forcing thousands of people into a claustrophobic concourse crush at half-time to chug two pints in eight minutes. In an era of all-seater grounds, CCTV, and banning orders, treating match-goers like 1980s zoo animals is absurd.