Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the 1985 ban on drinking alcohol in sight of the pitch at football matches could go. Should fans be allowed a pint in their seats?
The Sporting Events Act 1985 covers the top five tiers of English football, from the Premier League to the National League. Other sports have no such ban, and all Women's Super League clubs can now serve alcohol in the stands after two seasons of trials.
What happened
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said this week that the ban on drinking alcohol in sight of the pitch at football matches was unfair, saying fans should not be "singled out" and that the 1985 law "dates to an era where football was very different". The Sporting Events Act applies to the top five tiers of English football, from the Premier League to the National League. Burnham suggested a change could be trialled first. All Women's Super League clubs can now serve alcohol in the stands after two seasons of trials.
Why people disagree
The Football Supporters' Association says it is unfair to criminalise fans for a pint when people can drink in the same seat at a concert or a rugby league match, and the EFL says the law has not kept pace with modern stadium safety. The UK Football Policing Unit says football has particular problems with disorder and that changing the law without a full look at the evidence would be rash. The Premier League says it does not yet have a clear view.
What's still unclear
No bill or timetable has been announced. It is unclear whether any trial would start in the lower leagues or the Premier League, how policing and stewarding would adapt, and whether lessons from the women's game carry over to bigger crowds.
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