While still permitted in the concourses at football stadiums, drinking alcohol in seats has been banned since to stem hooliganism in the game; former sports minister Tracey Crouch, who is leading a supporter-led review into football, will recommend changes to that policy. Drinking alcohol in seats at football grounds, banned since , could be reinstated as part of a fan-led review into the game.
While the specific details are yet to be revealed, former sports minister and current Conservative MP Tracey Crouch is set to publish her independent review into football, with a key recommendation being changes to how alcohol is consumed within stadiums, according to The Times newspaper. Currently, drinking alcohol is permitted in the concourses of grounds in the Football League but not in seats, meaning fans can drink before the match and quickly at half-time.
Crouch, who has been battling cancer, admitted the timing of the recommendation against the backdrop of the scenes at Wembley for the Euro final in July is not ideal, but feels the moment has come to review how alcohol is viewed as part of the match-going experience.
But that's why I would pilot it first. Let's get the data. My view is not some kind of altruistic view that fans should be able to drink at football. It's also about allowing clubs to be able to sustain themselves. But football has to take a bit of responsibility for itself and sustain itself better. And that is the unhealthy aspect of the football fan's relationship with alcohol. They drink a lot in a short space of time. So my recommendation is to pilot this and not have to down a pint at half-time.
Live football on Sky Sports this week. Listen to the latest Sky Sports Football podcasts. Crouch will push for a pilot on serving alcohol at clubs in the National League and League Two with a view to extending it across the professional game, thus protecting income of clubs lower down the footballing pyramid.
