Alcohol availability at Scottish Football Stadia - Insights from the 'Football and Alcohol Scoping Study (FASST)' project

Abstract

Alcohol availability at football matches in Scotland is subject to specific legislation which sets it apart from other sports and cultural events. Specifically, part II of The Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 makes it illegal to take alcohol into a football stadium, consume alcohol within sight of a football pitch, enter a football stadium whilst drunk, and consume alcohol on official transport to football matches. Alcohol is only available within hospitality areas, although it is not permitted to consume alcohol in these areas while watching a match (i.e., blinds or curtains must be closed). This legislation was originally introduced in 1980 on the grounds of reducing football related violence and disorder (FRVD). Previous research has found that alcohol plays an important role for many fans attending football matches in Scotland. Drinking alcohol before matches was viewed by those who attend football matches as a normal and acceptable part of the match day experience1-3 . The availability of alcohol at football matches is a recurrent debate in Scotland, with arguments both in favour of and against liberalisation of current restrictions. Analysis of media reports conducted as part of this project found that examples of arguments for change focus on lower levels of disorder compared with the 1980s, fair treatment of football fans compared to other sports, and potential financial benefits of alcohol sales for football clubs. Arguments against change focus primarily on the persistence of FRVD. The current legislative framework regarding alcohol at Scottish football matches was brought in more than four decades ago to address disorder; public health concerns do not feature in the contemporary rationale2 . Since then, public policy better recognises the links between alcohol and health, with the Scottish licensing system including ‘protecting and improving public health’ as one of five statutory objectives, and the Scottish Government committing to ‘reduced availability of alcohol’ in the national alcohol framework4 . It is important that the debate surrounding alcohol and football in Scotland is informed by robust and concurrent evidence, regarding both implementation and about the potential consequences of changing the legislation.