UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled the government is actively looking at scrapping the 41-year-old ban on drinking alcohol within sight of the pitch at men's football matches. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Burnham called the rule "outdated" and "discriminatory," and said he'd like to see pilot trials that bring football in line with almost every other spectator sport and entertainment event in the country.
The comments have reignited a long-running argument between fan groups, football league executives and police chiefs over the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 -- emergency legislation brought in during the height of 1980s football hooliganism.
What Burnham actually said
Burnham, a lifelong Everton supporter, told reporters he doesn't think it's fair that football fans are treated differently from supporters of other sports. "I don't think it's fair for football fans to be singled out in that way," 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, perhaps 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 from others."
His remarks followed a visit to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium for a rugby league fixture, where he attended alongside Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram. Burnham pointed out that rugby fans sitting in those same seats could legally drink a pint while watching -- something denied to football fans at an Everton match in the very same stadium the following week.
Previous governments held firm on the 1985 Act, arguing football carried a unique public order risk. With lower-league clubs pushing for extra revenue and supporter groups demanding equal treatment, the current government appears open to controlled pilot schemes instead.
What the law actually covers
The Act was rushed through Parliament under Margaret Thatcher's government after events including the Heysel Stadium disaster in May 1985 and rioting at fixtures such as Luton Town against Millwall. It created specific criminal offences around alcohol at what are termed "designated sporting events," applying to the top five tiers of English men's football -- the Premier League, the Championship, League One, League Two and the National League.
It doesn't ban alcohol from grounds outright. Drinking is allowed in enclosed concourses, executive boxes (with curtains drawn during play so the pitch isn't visible from the bar) and stadium restaurants before kick-off and at half-time. Crucially, the law applies almost exclusively to men's professional football -- rugby union, rugby league, cricket, darts and horse racing all operate under standard local licensing rules, meaning fans at Lord's, Twickenham or the PDC World Darts Championship can drink in their seats without restriction.
The case for reform
Groups including the Football Supporters' Association, the English Football League and hospitality industry representatives argue the law no longer reflects modern stadiums or fan behaviour. One argument centres on what's sometimes called the binge-drinking effect: because fans can't drink in their seats, many pre-load with high-proof alcohol before entering, then rush the concourse bars in the 15-minute half-time window, downing several pints in minutes. Reformers say steady in-seat drinking across 90 minutes would smooth that pattern out and ease pressure on concourses.
There's also a fairness argument -- stadiums regularly host concerts and other sporting events where fans drink in the stands without major disorder, and supporters say singling out football reflects outdated 1980s stereotypes.
Money matters too, particularly for smaller clubs. Sacha Lord, Chair of the Night Time Industries Association, welcomed the proposed review as a potential lifeline for regional clubs, suggesting stadium-wide alcohol sales could generate more than £100,000 per season in additional hospitality revenue for individual lower-tier sides by capturing spend that currently goes to pubs and off-licenses near the ground.
Women's football offers a working example. Following the 2021 Fan-Led Review of Football Governance chaired by Dame Tracey Crouch MP, an 18-month trial let select Women's Super League and WSL 2 clubs sell alcohol within view of the pitch. The trial reported no increase in anti-social behaviour, arrests or ejections, and a supporter survey found 90 per cent felt matches stayed safe and family friendly. The rules were made permanent, letting WSL and WSL 2 clubs allow pitchside drinking based on local risk assessments -- Brighton & Hove Albion, for instance, has done so at Broadfield Stadium and the Amex Stadium.
Police push back
The UK Football Policing Unit, which coordinates matchday security across England and Wales, responded sharply to Burnham's comments, calling any abrupt deregulation "incredibly rash." Its statement read: "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. It would be irresponsible to fuel this by allowing greater alcohol consumption during games. Following a number of football-related tragedies, changes in legislation were implemented after the Taylor Report for good reason, and we are currently in the longest ever period without a significant football-related disaster. It would be incredibly rash to make fundamental changes without a full examination of the evidence."
Police point out football still accounts for the majority of sports-related arrests and public order deployments in the UK. Resistance isn't limited to law enforcement -- Marc White, owner and manager of National League South side Dorking Wanderers, warned against lifting the ban, calling the idea "short-sighted."
How other countries handle it
In Germany's Bundesliga, fans can legally drink beer in seats and on standing terraces, though clubs switch to light or alcohol-free beer for high-risk derby matches. France's Loi Évin generally bans alcohol sales inside sports venues, though clubs can apply for up to ten local exemptions a year, and VIP suites are often exempt anyway -- prompting similar class-discrimination criticism to that seen in England. In MLS and other US professional sports, in-seat drinking is standard, with ID checks and a cut-off point after which sales stop so fans can sober up before leaving.
What happens next
Burnham's backing is a significant shift in tone, but changing the law won't happen overnight. The Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are expected to invite stakeholders -- the FSA, the EFL, the Premier League, the UK Football Policing Unit and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority -- to a formal consultation. Any change would likely start with pilot schemes rather than a blanket repeal, with League Two and National League clubs the probable starting point under recommendations from the 2021 Fan-Led Review, and high-risk fixtures such as derbies staying restricted. If those trials pass without a rise in arrests or safety incidents, Parliament could then amend the 1985 Act, likely handing responsibility to local licensing committees and Safety Advisory Groups so clubs can set their own alcohol policies based on their own ground and fan behaviour.
