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Drinking in the stands- could it catch on?

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Comments

  • The Red Robin
    The Red Robin Posts: 27,595
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
  • Six-a-bag-of-nuts
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts Posts: 8,215
    edited July 2025
    I suppose I would have been all for it when I was in my 20s.
    Now, fcuk off.
    The last thing I want is some well oiled chump sitting next to me prattling on with beer talk, getting all touchy feely when we score and stumbling back and forth for a piss every 20  minutes.
  • SporadicAddick
    SporadicAddick Posts: 7,280
    edited July 2025
    There are some rules like not being able to drink in lounges within sight of the pitch after a certain time and so they close the curtains, which is palpable nonsense.

    But I dread the day drinking in the stand is reintroduced. I don't want to be showered in beer every time a goal goes in, and that is what would happen. The amount of aggro this would cause. As much as I love going to football, every fan base is full of knobs.

    Now, I have sat at many a rugby game with a pint of Guinness in hand, but Rugby is a different sport, with different moments of a critical nature. Rugby crowds are also full of knobs, but middle class twats don't throw beer, working class twats do.
  • SporadicAddick
    SporadicAddick Posts: 7,280
    sam3110 said:
    There should be a halfway house, serve beer, but only low ABV stuff, maximum 2%
    Because that's less likely to be thrown?
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,765
    sam3110 said:
    There should be a halfway house, serve beer, but only low ABV stuff, maximum 2%
    The sensible move would be to sell before, half time and after the match but not during the game. You can buy a beer and take it to your seat, but there will be no back and forth of people going to the bar during the match, getting completely plastered and would reduce frequent toilet trips. People who want a drink whilst they watch the game can do so in moderation, those who don’t aren’t inconvenienced. 
  • CAFCTrev
    CAFCTrev Posts: 6,246
    edited July 2025
    Im constantly getting soup, wagon wheels and blankets thrown at me every time we score in the East Stand so no thanks. 


  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 18,411
    SporadicAddick said:
    There are some rules like not being able to drink in lounges within sight of the pitch after a certain time and so they close the curtains, which is palpable nonsense.

    But I dread the day drinking in the stand is reintroduced. I don't want to be showered in beer every time a goal goes in, and that is what would happen. The amount of aggro this would cause. As much as I love going to football, every fan base is full of knobs.

    Now, I have sat at many a rugby game with a pint of Guinness in hand, but Rugby is a different sport, with different moments of a critical nature. Rugby crowds are also full of knobs, but middle class twats don't throw beer, working class twats do.
    Don't think class comes into it at all. I know plenty of middle class people who love throwing beer around and plenty of working class people who don't and who love going to the rugby. These views of football fans being of a lower class and standard have held back the rights of football fans for years. There are plenty of bad eggs at rugby matches, concerts and even places like Wimbledon but they don't lead to the masses being treated like second class citizens
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 23,046
    fenaddick said:
    SporadicAddick said:
    There are some rules like not being able to drink in lounges within sight of the pitch after a certain time and so they close the curtains, which is palpable nonsense.

    But I dread the day drinking in the stand is reintroduced. I don't want to be showered in beer every time a goal goes in, and that is what would happen. The amount of aggro this would cause. As much as I love going to football, every fan base is full of knobs.

    Now, I have sat at many a rugby game with a pint of Guinness in hand, but Rugby is a different sport, with different moments of a critical nature. Rugby crowds are also full of knobs, but middle class twats don't throw beer, working class twats do.
    Don't think class comes into it at all. I know plenty of middle class people who love throwing beer around and plenty of working class people who don't and who love going to the rugby. These views of football fans being of a lower class and standard have held back the rights of football fans for years. There are plenty of bad eggs at rugby matches, concerts and even places like Wimbledon but they don't lead to the masses being treated like second class citizens
    Slightly different problem there usually... https://g.co/kgs/7cHMu7S
  • gringo
    gringo Posts: 1,009
    edited July 2025
    CAFCTrev said:
    Im constantly getting soup, wagon wheels and blankets thrown at me every time we score in the East Stand so no thanks. 


    I think it might be your coat...

  • JustFloydRoad
    JustFloydRoad Posts: 2,598
    sam3110 said:
    There should be a halfway house, serve beer, but only low ABV stuff, maximum 2%
    Arsenal do have alcohol free zones in the ground (so you could go to another part of the ground if you want an alcohol free zone).

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  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 14,387
    JustFloydRoad said:
    sam3110 said:
    There should be a halfway house, serve beer, but only low ABV stuff, maximum 2%
    Arsenal do have alcohol free zones in the ground (so you could go to another part of the ground if you want an alcohol free zone).
    Or maybe less popular areas of the ground could be designated as drink during the game. West upper, northwest quadrant for example. Would definitely increase the attendance in and noise from those areas 
  • Stuart_Learys_Boots
    Stuart_Learys_Boots Posts: 107
    Had a great day out at Dagenham and Redbridge yesterday. Had a pint on the terrace during the game. Was very relaxed. Saw Andy Carroll play! The standard of football was unexpectedly good. Shame about the result. 
  • ElfsborgAddick
    ElfsborgAddick Posts: 29,986
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
  • paulsturgess
    paulsturgess Posts: 4,293
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  
  • ElfsborgAddick
    ElfsborgAddick Posts: 29,986
    edited September 2025
    paulsturgess said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  

    Non League in England and in many cases the crowds can be way in excess of 500.  I have been to hundreds of games and do not recall any problems.
    Sweden, but only 3.5% booze can be drunk.
  • stevexreeve
    stevexreeve Posts: 1,427
    Should really be left up to the clubs or the FA and not a ruling from parliament and the king. Just stopping sales during the game and at half time would be my preference. Then I can buy a beer on my way in and sit at my seat and drink it before the game starts (or maybe a little longer). But I don't want people abandoning their seats every ten minutes - even at half time! (But Ok if you need a pee obviously).
  • JustFloydRoad
    JustFloydRoad Posts: 2,598
    Alcohol Choice at the Valley 2/5/26


  • usetobunkin
    usetobunkin Posts: 2,435
    And have beer slung over me , every time we score. No thanks!
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 23,046
    usetobunkin said:
    And have beer slung over me , every time we score. No thanks!
    We barely score so I think you'll be alright
  • Lewis Coaches
    Lewis Coaches Posts: 5,563
    If the beer is not thrown over you then the next thing will be, plastic glass will be chucked onto pitch. Ref will stop game and in some cases game abandoned. 

    So simpel keep rule the same. 

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  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 17,164
    Here are the facts on what’s been happening with this at women’s matches this season. Good to see that some football fans are able to enjoy alcohol responsibly in view of the pitch - and without negative impact on others:

    https://thefsa.org.uk/news/wsl-footballs-alcohol-pilot-overwhelmingly-positive/
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 48,155
    I can't see the rule changing. Fans can still drink alcohol before and after the game and at half time so not sure clubs are missing out on a lot of revenue.
  • JustFloydRoad
    JustFloydRoad Posts: 2,598
    MuttleyCAFC said:
    I can't see the rule changing. Fans can still drink alcohol before and after the game and at half time so not sure clubs are missing out on a lot of revenue.

    You say that but in the NFL, where you can drink during a game, teams earn a lot more from the matchday experience than English football clubs do. One of the factors drinking inside the seated areas.
  • Danepak
    Danepak Posts: 1,674
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    paulsturgess said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  

    Non League in England and in many cases the crowds can be way in excess of 500.  I have been to hundreds of games and do not recall any problems.
    Sweden, but only 3.5% booze can be drunk.
    In Denmark you can buy full strength beer (4.6%) and drink it in the stands.
  • Radostanradical
    Radostanradical Posts: 1,229
    Personally I dont think so, and I say this as a man who likes a beer. I just don't think it would work at league grounds with substantial following, at Saturday matches you already get power drinkers who are tanked up before Kick Off.

    I don't think its a good experiment to test out in womens football as the crowd is markebly different in bith size and culture.
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 71,800
    Watching a game with a pint in non league is very nice, but it's very different drinking at smaller non league grounds, which are very basic setups with minimal stands and crowds, where it's easy to walk around without affecting anyone else.

    Personally, I never quite get the obsession some people have with the HT pint. Leaving the first half early and coming back late, all for a pint of overpriced mediocre lager.

  • jamescafc
    jamescafc Posts: 1,842
    Danepak said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    paulsturgess said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  

    Non League in England and in many cases the crowds can be way in excess of 500.  I have been to hundreds of games and do not recall any problems.
    Sweden, but only 3.5% booze can be drunk.
    In Denmark you can buy full strength beer (4.6%) and drink it in the stands.
    Danepak said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    paulsturgess said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  

    Non League in England and in many cases the crowds can be way in excess of 500.  I have been to hundreds of games and do not recall any problems.
    Sweden, but only 3.5% booze can be drunk.
    In Denmark you can buy full strength beer (4.6%) and drink it in the stands.
    4.6% - you guys are lightweights! 
  • Billy_Mix
    Billy_Mix Posts: 2,831
    Based on Saturday's game, drinking in the stands is being enjoyed by several attendees already.
    Same can't be said for their neighbours tho.
    Anybody else get lager spilled on them by the pissed up oiks in the Curbside 2nd half on Saturday?
    Stewarding notable by its absence throughout
  • Chris_from_Sidcup
    Chris_from_Sidcup Posts: 37,178
    paulsturgess said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  
    Spain is different because football is less 'tribal' there and you get hardly any away followings at most games.

    But if they can make it work in Italy and Germany then i don't see why it can't work in England. I'd say they probably shouldn't allow it for local derbies or high risk games though. The local police are never going to allow it at Newcastle v Sunderland for example. But if you're at Charlton v Preston, there's really not much reason people shouldn't be able to drink.

    I'd honestly be surprised if they allow it anywhere though, as there's not much to suggest it will do anything other than result in a higher number of arrests across the country.
  • Radostanradical
    Radostanradical Posts: 1,229
    Chris_from_Sidcup said:
    paulsturgess said:
    ElfsborgAddick said:
    The Red Robin said:
    They’ll never let it happen it football. We’re second class citizens as far as central government are concerned. That’ll never change. 
    A few countries abroad allow it.
    I think many. Spain Italy Germany. Seems to be absolutely fine and additive to the experience, from my experiences.  
    Spain is different because football is less 'tribal' there and you get hardly any away followings at most games.

    But if they can make it work in Italy and Germany then i don't see why it can't work in England. I'd say they probably shouldn't allow it for local derbies or high risk games though. The local police are never going to allow it at Newcastle v Sunderland for example. But if you're at Charlton v Preston, there's really not much reason people shouldn't be able to drink.

    I'd honestly be surprised if they allow it anywhere though, as there's not much to suggest it will do anything other than result in a higher number of arrests across the country.
    Funny enough alcohol is banned in the Bernabeu.

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