To beer or not to beer …

For those of us that are forced by geographic or budgetary limits to watch most of our football on TV, it might seem that football and beer go together like … well, better than any two other things have ever gone together before. A brilliant game is that much better with a nice cold pint in front of you, but in many parts of Europe, particularly those that have been sites of football hooliganism, beer at the stadium is a no-no. One of these places is Scotland, particularly Glasgow.

In 1980, Celtic and Rangers fans, in a pretty standard display of Old Firm derby behavior, got drunk and brawled with each other after a Scottish Cup final match. Little did they know that their fracas would lead to a SPL-wide ban on alcohol sales, thus ruining it for the rest of the country. Thanks again, OF.

The ban soon also extended to rugby matches, a ban that was only recently lifted. The ability to sell alcohol at rugby matches generated over a million pounds per season for the Scottish Rugby Union, plus sponsorships, and now, finally, after 27 years of mind-numbing sobriety, the SPL is making a play to do the same. Scotland has an excellent recent record of safety at football matches, both domestic and international, and it’s time to give the league another chance. Like it or not, (and most of us like it … a lot) people want a pint or two with their football, and as long as security guards do their jobs, I see no reason not to allow them to have it. After all, after Tartan Army single-handedly elevated the Italian economy during Euro 2008 qualies this year, it’s clear that at least some Scottish fans can get very, very drunk and still be quite peaceful. At least try it in a few test stadia. Just a tip, though, maybe Parkhead and Ibrox are not the ideal first steps … Tulloch Caledonian perhaps?

Category: Scottish Premier League

Tags: Drinking and football, Regulations, Scottish Premier League, Scottish Rugby Union, SPL, Tartan Army

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