Jack Wood

SCOTTISH football fans are used to being at the whim of the authorities, whether it is being herded like cattle or being subject to ill-thought out legislation such as the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

In England, since 1985 stadiums can sell alcohol up to 15 minutes before kick-off and at half time. Scottish football fans were banned from drinking alcohol in grounds after the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic, where authorities deemed it to be the cause of the pitch invasions and violence.

England has had its share of fan trouble over the years, too. In the 2015-16 season, there were 2,000 football related arrests, a slight increase for the first time in three years; yet there is no rush to change the law. Why are English football fans treated differently to Scottish football fans?

In 2015 Scottish Labour called for the sale of alcohol to be introduced into Scottish stadiums. When pressed about the issue, then social justice secretary Alex Neil said: “We don’t believe now is the right time to reintroduce alcohol into football.” The minister could have done with a reality check if he believed that alcohol was not already a feature for fans of Scottish football. Drinking and going to the football is a well-trodden path, irrespective of the alcohol ban in stadiums.

Mr Neil said he wished to keep football a “family game”, and maintaining the law at present would ensure that. Yet when rugby is played at Murrayfield, supporters are free to purchase alcohol and enjoy it in full view of the pitch. Does this mean that rugby could not be considered to be a “family game”?

Selling alcohol in the concourse area of football grounds could help both police and fans alike. If fans knew they were able to have a pint or two in the ground before the match, they wouldn’t have to stay in the pub or on the bus and drink to excess before entering the ground, reducing the chance of alcohol-related arrests outside the ground or on the bus. Similarly, if they were able to have a pint at half time, it would give people less incentive to smuggle alcohol in with them, again cutting down the number of potential offenders.

An example to look at would be Celtic Park. For years, smoking in the toilets at half-time has been an issue at Parkhead, as it has at other stadiums. However this season the club has allowed supporters to leave the ground at half-time to smoke, meaning that the toilets are smoke-free. Fans do not have to be treated like disobedient children.

In England you can enter the ground before the game starts so it’s not overly busy, in full knowledge you can enjoy a pint on the other side. You can’t have your drink within full view of the pitch but you can have one at half time, and in some cases for a brief period after the match, not having to rush yourself onto a packed train.

In a survey conducted last September by Supporters Direct Scotland, 67 per cent of the 14,500 fans asked were in favour of introducing the sale of alcohol in Scottish football grounds. It’s time for the Government to abandon this law and give Scottish football fans the same opportunities available to those at Murrayfield and those in England.

Jack Wood is a student journalist