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PM Andy Burnham backs lifting ban on drinking alcohol in football stands

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the 40-year ban on drinking alcohol in view of the pitch at English football matches is outdated and discriminatory — and could be lifted on a trial basis.

By Sarah Whitfield · · 2 min read

Crowd of football supporters in the stands of an English football stadium during a match
Austiñobobbiño / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has backed lifting the 40-year ban on drinking alcohol in view of the pitch at English football matches, saying football supporters are unfairly “singled out” compared with fans of other sports.

Speaking to reporters travelling with him to New York for the UN General Assembly, Mr Burnham — an Everton supporter — said the four-decade-old restrictions date from “an era where football was very different” and suggested the ban could be lifted “on a trial basis”.

“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” he said. “I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination… 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.” (Reuters)

Drinking in sight of the pitch has been banned since 1985 under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act, introduced amid that decade’s football hooliganism; the ban covers the top five tiers of men’s football in England, plus Scotland. Cricket and rugby supporters face no equivalent restriction.

The proposal was welcomed by the Football Supporters’ Association, whose chief executive Tom Greatrex called the act “outdated”, and by the EFL. But the UK Football Policing Unit warned alcohol plays “a significant part in football-related violent and disorderly behaviour” and that allowing greater consumption would be “irresponsible to fuel this”. (Sky Sports)

A 2025-26 Women’s Super League trial of drinking in view of the pitch found 90 per cent of supporters said matches remained safe and family-friendly.

Sources

More on this topic: all UK Broadband stories

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