The Scottish government and Police Scotland are reportedly open to considering pilot projects that would permit the sale of alcohol at football matches.
A briefing for First Minister John Swinney before the Scotland v Croatia match in November suggested limited pilot projects to assess alcohol sales’ impact on matchdays.
According to the briefing, while Police Scotland expressed willingness to engage in discussions on the matter, the Scottish government had not yet planned any legislative review.
The sale of alcohol at Scottish football matches has been prohibited since 1981 following incidents of rioting during the previous year’s Scottish Cup final.
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information revealed that the issue was also discussed during an Enhancing Scottish Football roundtable event held in December.
The briefing noted that Minister Maree Todd discussed the issue with the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) , keeping the possibility open.
However, it was also noted that any proposal would need to consider the broader implications of alcohol consumption on public health in Scotland.
The report acknowledged that alcohol was already available in certain areas of stadiums, such as fan zones and hospitality suites, and suggested that limited pilot projects could provide valuable evidence on the matter.
The SPFL’s chief operating officer, Calum Beattie, had previously suggested that lower-risk matches, as categorized by Police Scotland, could be considered for alcohol sales.
Comparisons were also drawn with rugby, where fans are allowed to drink inside stadiums, potentially reducing last-minute surges to enter the venue.
