Drinking at Football Matches: UK's Burnham Calls for Law Change
· Sports · BBC Sport, BBC News
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, an Everton supporter, has publicly called for removing the ban on alcohol at football matches, arguing fans are unfairly singled out compared to other sports events. The Sporting Events Control of Alcohol Act has restricted alcohol sales since 1985, though Scotland allows it in hospitality areas and England's WSL has lifted restrictions for women's games. The ban remains in place for men's football in England and Wales, impacting clubs from the Premier League to the National League, while Scotland has gradually expanded alcohol access through pilot schemes since 2023. Burnham's remarks come after MPs rejected a 2023 Conservative amendment to the Football Governance Bill that would have mandated a government consultation on scrapping the rule.
Why it matters
Fans across England and Wales remain legally barred from drinking at their seats during matches, with no immediate policy change expected despite growing pressure from figures like Burnham.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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