Fans set to be allowed to drink alcohol in their seats during matches. Good or Bad move???

[chrismpw]

Terrible idea, have a few before and after. It does my head in at the theatre when there's a stampede at the interval, can't people go a couple of hours without a bevvy, flipping alcoholics.

True this. It won't be good beer and it won't be reasonably priced either so I wouldn't dream of drinking during a match. Same as I can go 2 hours without grazing at a cinema since I'm not cattle.

 

[Rudolf Hucker]

That would be a backward step.

 

[toffeeblue9]

True this. It won't be good beer and it won't be reasonably priced either so I wouldn't dream of drinking during a match. Same as I can go 2 hours without grazing at a cinema since I'm not cattle.

I usually drive to home games, so tend to only have one before the game. I'm also not a lover of the ale on offer at Goodison.

I'll probably not drive when the BMD move happens and rely on the train instead, that being the case I wouldn't suddenly be getting 4 or 5 pints during the game just because I can if the the ale on offer was the same as it is now.

Genuinely don't see the problem though - if people want to have a drink, let them, we are just about the only country in Europe (that I'm aware of) who have this rule in place.

Been to domestic games in Italy, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic and Portugal. All of them allow you to drink beer at your seats, in none of these countries did chaos ensue. If you think we have a beer drinking culture at football in England btw, you want to go and watch a Bundesliga game with match-going German fans. Perfectly socially acceptable to have a can in your hand absolutely all times of the day (apart from whilst in the stadium) from leaving your house to returning home.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Personally I'm not really fussed about the idea of getting an ale while at the match itself since I alway avoid buying the overpriced muck and instead just get more at the pub before and after the game. That being said It does my head in that I'm treated like a hooligan by default that can't be trusted to have an ale in sight of the pitch. You don't get treated like this in other sports, just football because there's an outdated, negative perception of what a football fan is. Its always been a ludicrous rule, you can have as many overpriced ales as you want downstairs but a few ales with the pitch in view and we're all gonna start throwing hands? Behave. Its nonsense and always was.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Shouldn't be a problem if they stop selling at kick off and don't open until half-time, but that would require more sales outlets and would bring in less money, so won't happen. Will be a pain if people keep leaving their seats to get another overpriced low quality pint.

And to go to the toilet 4 times during the game also.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

Terrible idea, have a few before and after. It does my head in at the theatre when there's a stampede at the interval, can't people go a couple of hours without a bevvy, flipping alcoholics.

same, ruins the experience. should stay banned imo. I love a beer and I still think so. Alcohol is a no-no for stadiums

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Not for me - takes the gloss of of pre and post match pints.

 

[Alan Whittle]

On balance, a bad idea. Will only happen in hospitality areas anyway. Culturally not suited at Football although I remember drinking a pint of Draught Bass at a New York Giants game. A few drinking around me as well but no drama anywhere.
A few years ago I was with my lad watching Everton at Craven Cottage and a lad had smuggled his pint in. Was spotted by a steward and ignored him. Senior Steward turns up and starts getting a bit bolshie and indicating that he wants the drink. Lad passes it along the row towards the steward with each recipient taking a quick glug. Last fella finishes it off and hands the empty beaker to the steward. Small round of applause from those nearby.

 

[trueblue84]

They should just sell pints of domestos.

 

[Bluerover]

At the Aviva in Dublin, the bars are open for rugby matches but are definitely closed for soccer.

In Croke Park, which holds 83000 the bars are all open although, sensibly, you cannot bring alcohol back to your seat. Never saw any problems and in GAA, fans are completely mixed together - no segregation.

 

[blueboy1945]

Surely people can go a couple of hours without alcohol. How does watching a match through an alcoholic haze heighten the experience?

 

[WA Toffee]

Surely people can go a couple of hours without alcohol. How does watching a match through an alcoholic haze heighten the experience?

I've never heard of groups of mates going to a cafe to watch football, but they do go to a pub.

Having a beer or two while watching football heghtens the whole experience for a lot of people. It doesn't mean they are getting p1ssed or unable to go 2 hours without alcohol.

And if people act like d-heads, then throw them out and ban them

 

[toffeeblue9]

same, ruins the experience. should stay banned imo. I love a beer and I still think so. Alcohol is a no-no for stadiums

Nanny state stuff - it's allowed in every other sport I can think of in this country barring maybe Tennis and allowed in every other country I can think of for football.

Singling out one sport in the UK is madness and it always has been

 

[Carloblues]

Yes pease, sick of getting brain freeze trying to neck a pint to get up for the second half

 

[charlie atkins]

Bad idea, you will be asked to move every few minutes as they go to the bar or toilet