Andy Burnham renews push for pints on the terraces at football matches
Andy Burnham has thrown his weight behind a campaign to let football fans enjoy a pint in view of the pitch, reigniting a debate that has simmered since alcohol was banned in the top five divisions of English football during the troubled 1980s.
The Prime Minister, a lifelong Evertonian familiar with boardroom turmoil, points deductions and relegation battles, believes that if he and other supporters fancy a sip or two to ease the pain of watching Thierno Barry head wide of an open goal, then that ought to be their constitutional right as proud Englishmen.
Under current rules, thirsty match-goers must endure an agonising 45-minute wait before rushing to the bar, joining long queues of fellow fans eager to buy pints of foaming lager that must then be chugged back, yard-of-ale style, in enough time to return to their seats for the start of the second half.
Travelling to New York, Burnham told reporters that football fans are being discriminated against compared with supporters of cricket, rugby and horse racing.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way and I made that point,” he said. “That legislation dates to an era where football was very different and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination. There are different ways it could be done – it could happen on a trial basis. But I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
Supporters and Premier League back a trial
While some cynical observers have dismissed the intervention as populist political grandstanding, the Football Supporters’ Association shares Burnham’s view that allowing fans to bring an overpriced, flimsy receptacle of flat lager to their seats would massively enhance the matchday experience. The Premier League, ever alert to an opportunity to prise an extra few quid out of its customers, is naturally open to any idea that helps its members do so.
Policing unit pours cold water on the plan
The UK Football Policing Unit, however, is understandably less enthused.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” they said. “It would be irresponsible to fuel this by allowing greater alcohol consumption during games.”
Yet the recent box-park phenomenon of performative, celebratory pint-throwing shows trouble can surface regardless of legislation. Nobody wants to come home from a football match drenched in beer, even if the only alternatives are to stay home or start supporting Spurs.
There is also a practical snag: reintroducing alcohol could force fans to stand up and sit down again repeatedly to make room for an endless procession of people heading to and from the bars and toilets — a nuisance familiar to anyone who has attended enough rugby internationals.