Tories make fresh call to end Scottish football alcohol ban

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The Tories have said the ban on alcohol sales in Scottish football stadiums on match days should be scrapped after a junior football club was given a licence to sell drinks in the stands for a forthcoming fixture.

Ayrshire side Irvine Meadow will be allowed to sell alcohol to supporters from an outside bar on the terraces during their match with local rivals Irvine Vics later this month.

The club is thought to be the first in Scotland to serve alcohol on its terraces since a ban on alcohol sales at professional grounds was initially imposed in 1980.

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Alcohol has been banned from grounds north of the Border for more than three decades, although drink is available at grounds in England and at Scottish rugby games, including internationals at Murrayfield.

Fans at stadiums in England are allowed to drink alcohol before kick-off and at half-time in bars at the ground, although drink cannot be taken into the stands.

In Scotland, although alcohol can be served in corporate hospitality areas of football stadiums, the ban applies in every other part of grounds.

It came into force following a riot at the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic, although alcohol can be served in corporate hospitality areas of football stadiums.

However, the Scottish Tories have said it is time for ministers to rethink the alcohol ban in professional football grounds.

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “We believe the Scottish Government should examine the possibility of introducing alcohol at the football.

“It’s wrong that it can be enjoyed in expensive hospitality areas, but not by normal fans."

Scottish Labour under Jim Murphy’s leadership called for the ban on alcohol to be phased out, although this is no longer the policy of the party led by Kezia Dugdale.

Scotland‘s Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has said that disorder at this year’s Scottish Cup final showed the need to retain the alcohol ban at football grounds.

Matheson, speaking after the Rangers and Hibernian tie, said the post-match pitch invasion and violence at Hampden showed the Scottish Government had been right to resist calls to relax the ban.

In his remarks after May's cup final, Matheson said: "I think if anybody thought that reintroducing alcohol into Scottish football was a good idea, events of Saturday, I believe, just underline that it was not and I'm pleased that we stood our ground on that particular issue and opposed those parties in the Scottish Parliament who sought to try to change the legislation to allow alcohol to be reintroduced to grounds."