Pints flow in Scotland soccer stadia pilot

Article posted by Coliseum, July 22^nd, 2025

Image: St Mirren Park, Fragglerock52, CC BY-SA 4.0

A ban on alcohol in the Scottish football stadiums (UK) was lifted as part of a pilot scheme.

For the first time in 44 years the fans were able to enjoy a cold beer at the footie recently.

The pints were flowing at two Scottish fixtures – at the Arbroath F.C. vs. St Mirren F.C. – and at the Stirling Albion F.C. vs. the Scottish League One team Hamilton Academical F.C. – while the other clubs including the Queen of the South F.C. and the Ayr United F.C. will be involved in future trial games.

‘BBC’ stated that the Scottish Championship (the second tier of Scottish football) teams Arbroath F.C. and the Ayr United F.C., the Scottish League One (the third tier of Scottish football) team Queen of the South F.C. and the Scottish League Two team (the fourth tier of Scottish football) – the Stirling Albion F.C. – earlier confirmed that they will allow a limited number of home fans at the league Cup fixtures to drink alcohol in the designated areas.

The Scottish Premiership team (the highest level of the Scottish football league system) St Mirren F.C. are also understood to be participating in the scheme as are two other unnamed clubs.

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL – the national Men’s association football league in Scotland) said it hoped the pilot would improve the “matchday experience” of the fans.

‘BBC’ further stated that alcohol has been banned in Scottish football stadiums since 1981.

Despite the trial the Government said it has no plans to change the rules.

The pilot project will also run at the Arbroath F.C.’s home fixture against the Scottish League Two club Annan Athletic F.C. on July 22^nd.

The Ayr United F.C. confirmed that they had been granted an alcohol license for two home Premier Sports Cup games – against the Arbroath F.C. on July 19^th and the Scottish League Two team Forfar Athletic F.C. on July 22^nd.

A pop-up bar will be set up for a limited number of fans in the disability section of the Main Stand at the Ayr United home – the 10,185-capacity Somerset Park in South Ayrshire, Scotland (UK).

For a ticket costing £35 they will be able to have up to four pints of beer before the match and a further pint during halftime.

Only the supporters in the hospitality sections have been able to drink alcohol in Scottish football grounds since 1981 but not if they have a view of the pitch.

The supporters making use of the new SPFL pilot schemes will not be able to view the pitch while in the pop-up bars. The clubs can only serve alcohol if they have been granted an alcohol license by their local authority.

The SPFL said that a total of seven clubs across four divisions were involved in the pilot scheme.

An SPFL spokesperson said there would be “close oversight from the relevant licensing boards, the local authorities and the Police Scotland” and that any sale of alcohol would be compliant with all licensing laws.

The spokesperson added, “Work will also be undertaken to gather feedback from the supporters on how they found the process and any impact it had on the matchday experience. This is another welcome step in our aim to improve the matchday experience for all the Scottish football supporters and to receive parity with sporting and other social and cultural events across the United Kingdom.”

Government ‘Not Sympathetic’

It was revealed in March that the Scottish Government and the Police Scotland would consider allowing pilot projects lifting the alcohol ban in stadiums.

Some fans have long campaigned for a change in the policy arguing that the alcohol ban in football is unfair as the rugby fans are allowed to drink alcohol at the games.

The Scottish Government had said previously it had no plans to end the ban.

Recently, the Sport Minister Maree Todd said the Government’s position on alcohol sales in the football grounds had not changed – “It is for the local licensing authorities and the Police Scotland to satisfy themselves that the pilot projects are permissible within the current legislative framework when granting licenses.”

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