Celtic granted green light for alcohol sale in 'family friendly' stand

Celtic have secured permission to sell alcohol in a “family friendly” area set up to improve the “matchday experience”, despite an objection from Glasgow’s health and social care partnership.

The club is planning to use the lower west stand at Celtic Park for pre-match activities between 11am and 1pm when there is a 3pm kick off.

Fans will be able to buy a pint after the city’s licensing board approved changes to the premises licence, with the application following a five-game trial which the club described as a “success”.

However, a health and social care partnership (HSCP) spokeswoman said the stadium is in an area with “alcohol related harms significantly above the Scottish rate”.

And she suggested a “family friendly space” is “not a suitable environment for the sale of alcohol”.

Cllr Dan Hutchison, Greens, put forward a motion, seconded by Bailie Thomas Kerr, Conservative, to refuse the application on the grounds of improving public health and protecting children and young people from harm.

But it lost out by four votes to two to an amendment from Cllr Bill Butler, Labour, seconded by Bailie Margaret Morgan, SNP, to grant permission.

Stephen McGowan, representing Celtic, said: “The club has been asked by fans to provide facilities in the stadium earlier in the day pre-match to help build the club’s wider matchday experience.

“It’s about offering something for the fans who make a day of it.”

It will be a “family-friendly area for pre-match entertainment and hospitality”, with activities for children including face painting and photos with the club mascot.

Mr McGowan said there would be a “low-key atmosphere for a wide demographic”. The capacity is 500 although only 250 were allowed in during the trials.

The HSCP spokeswoman said the stadium is within a “designated overprovision locality, with “alcohol-related hospital admissions 257% above the Scottish rate and alcohol specific deaths 107% above the Scottish rate”.

She said evidence “about drinking behaviours, adopted in formative years, tracks strongly into adult life” and children feel safer when alcohol is “less visible”.

“This is not a suitable environment for the sale of alcohol,” she added. “It is inconsistent with the licensing objective of protecting children and young persons from harm and protecting and improving public health.”

The spokeswoman also said there is a “need to have a conversation about the association of sport and alcohol”.

There were no police or public objections to the application and Mr McGowan said Police Scotland, who always have a presence on match days, had shared advice during the trial period.

He added there wont be access to the stands during the pre-match activities and only ticket holders for the game will be allowed in.

The change will not increase the number of people coming into the stadium and there are “numerous licensed bars across premises, all of which allow children and young people”, he said.

Mr McGowan said the club believed the space would be “family friendly” and “relaxed”.

During the licensing board meeting, the Hoops Bar on the Gallowgate was handed an occasional licence for an outside drinking area on June 3 for the Scottish Cup final.