Swinney ‘not sympathetic’ to booze at football matches

First Minister John Swinney has said he is “not sympathetic” to allowing alcohol at football games.

It comes after documents revealed Police Scotland would be willing to consider pilot projects to sell booze at matches.

Prior to his attendance at Scotland’s Nations League game against Croatia in November, First Minister John Swinney was briefed that a “limited number” of test projects to gather evidence on the effect of selling alcohol to fans were feasible.

But speaking on Wednesday, the First Minister knocked down any speculation such a plan would be forthcoming.

“I understand the aspiration amongst football clubs and some football interests to take forward measures to address the ban on alcohol in football stadiums,” he said.

“I’m not sympathetic to that.

“I understand where they’re coming from, but I am not sympathetic to that.

“I think we’ve got a set of arrangements in place just now that work, that are appropriate, that are necessary, and I think we should stick with them.”

While fans can consume alcohol at stadiums within specified fan zones and hospitality areas, proposed pilots would see alcohol sold in the concourse.

The sale of alcohol has been banned in Scottish football since 1981 after the previous year’ Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic erupted into a riot.

The ban has often resulted in comparisons with rugby, where fans are allowed to drink alcohol in the stands.

On December 22, 2024, Glasgow Warriors played against Edinburgh at Hampden with alcohol being sold in the concourse. A day prior Queen’s Park took to the pitch, however, fans were unable to drink.

Minister for social care Maree Todd said that there is less of a rush at Murrayfield during big fixtures as fans are able to drink within the stadium rather than at nearby pubs.

Last year, health secretary Neil Gray said the Government had not had any proposal from football authorities.

But he said any proposal would be given “serious consideration”.

Charity Alcohol Focus Scotland said lifting the ban would be the wrong decision.

Its chief executive Alison Douglas said: “Increasing the availability of alcohol by lifting the ban on alcohol in football stadiums at a time when Scotland has just reported a 15-year high in alcohol deaths and is in the midst of what the Scottish Government itself has described as an alcohol emergency would be a step in the wrong direction.”