Ipswich Town's former Chief Executive Simon Clegg is leading a campaign to have the ban on drinking in sight of the pitch at games removed. He claims that clubs should be allowed to decide when it's appropriate and when it isn't. âSociety has moved on since the dark days of the 1970s and 1980s and home office figures would suggest that the number of arrests at games over the last couple of seasons is at an all-time low. âThat doesnât mean Iâm being complacent about this situation and what Iâm not calling for is a complete lifting of the ban. âWhat I am suggesting is this issue should be delegated down to the local area for them to make a decision on a case by case basis. So if we were playing Norwich you probably wouldnât do it but we probably would do it if we were playing Bristol City.â He says that there should be family areas where it's not allowed (Paxton?) and that it should be trialed at Portman Road, due to the club's good record. I'm taking his word for that and assuming that he's talking about hooliganism and violent or anti-social behaviour. He also claims that it's unfair to target one sport, pointing out that Reading fans can't drink in their seats but London Irish fans can, despite them being the same seats! What do people make of this? I have mixed feelings, as I'd like to be allowed to drink and some of our games bloody drive me to it, but I can also see it going badly wrong. The suggestion that some games would be ok but others wouldn't is sensible, but when clubs have the potential to make a ton of extra money, then I can see them making poor choices. I'm currently undecided, but leaning towards maintaining the ban, I think.
I don't know if the ban makes any difference,a lot of people seem to go to the Pub before a match anyway,the only thing is, they could use pint or whatever Glasses for weapons
Football fans can't be trusted to behave with a drink in them so am with you on this, maintain the ban. As for the double standards, sports like rugby arent associated with hooligan elements or fans chanting about deaths during a minutes silence. I know many will say these are isolated incidents but some fans act like idiots after a can of red bulll, so best to keep the ban.
Totally agree, tots. -and pints can come in plastic cups or bottles. - so that wouldn't be an issue. It's a shame, as there's so many fans who just enjoy a beer and don't cause any problem whatsoever. Like me for example, I'm usually a happy drunken mess who loves everyone!
I have serious reservations about this, as one who is old enough to remember when drinking was allowed, and why it was banned. I think Mr Clegg's comments should be amended to read "Most of society has moved on" Unfortunately, there is an element who have not. The prospect of a Millwall vs Chelsea, or West Ham game with alcohol is a rather disturbing thought. Yes, I know they can still drink outside the ground,and if they are minded to cause trouble, they will anyway. But, on balance, having waited so long to virtually eliminate violence inside the grounds, I'm not sure that running the risk of it coming back is worth it.
Why people can't support their team without resorting to violence,is completly beyond me,they must have a screw loose somewhere
Ipswich fans have to sit through the football Mick McCarthy inflicts on them without the comfort of alcohol? That's a borderline war crime!
I'm not in favour of bans of any sort, but football is a difficult one because of the tribal behavior of large numbers of fans. If it's working don't fix it so the current situation is best left alone. I'd like to think we could have a society where people could drink sensibly but as it's been a problem in Britain since at least Roman times it's perhaps not realistic that we can expect change any time soon. There is a record of a Roman soldier in Britain writing home to complain about the climate and the locals who seem to drink themselves stupid all the time. So nothing changes!
They might just VAT it instead or introduce tariff charges. The Tariffs could be:- City Centre Air Breathing a) First 600 breaths with intakes of not more then 2000 cm3/breath-intake will be charged at 0.59p per intake,. followed by 0.0625819 for every breath taken after that.... Plus VAT...... of course. and/or Otter districts and Rural Breathing b) First 600 breaths with intakes of not more then 3000 cm3/breath-intake will be charged at 0.61 per intake during daylight hours., followed by 0.0625829 for every breath taken after that....Plus VAT....of course. With the applicable Tarrif to be charged up front. Anyone caught Breathing heavily after dusk and on Sundays afternoons will be severely punished or jailed or both. Children under the age of 4 and older people are exempt severe punishment, but could be jailed. It could also be stated that all living people have the right to appeal., but are advised not to waist their breath.
I pretty much agree with the sentiments on here. As Spurf eluded to, Football is a tribal sport. Different breed of people go compared to other sports. Lifting the ban might be idealistic at the likes of the Emirates or Old Trafford but how happy would you feel if that was at say... A less corporate club. Not many would like to go to Leeds/Millwall away at the best of times but could you imagine how you'd feel knowing some of their fans are boozed up? In Britain, alcohol brings out the worst in us. Go to any town centre on a Friday (or to a lesser extent Saturday) night and you'll see it for yourself. Another issue is the impact on pubs and local business. Not a week goes by where some pub or the other hasn't had to shut due to financial reasons. We need to encourage spending. I'd rather my £10-£20 go in the pocket of local business than a football club who generate millions and see me as a pound sign more than anything else. Emphatic No for me
There was definitely an atmosphere there yesterday. I'm not sure that it comprised of the elements mentioned above, though!
It seems such a typically British way to deal with "vices" that at football there is no alcohol allowed in sight of the pitch. Result being that you have to neck a pint as fast as you can at half time. On top of the one or two that you've necked really quickly whilst hanging around in the concourses before the game. Having said that people, unfortunately, do need to be protected from themselves. Violence and drunken crap WILL increase a great deal if people were allowed to nip off and keep getting drinks throughout the game. TBH the main problem I'd have with it as a punter would be having people go up and down and past me all the time as they go off for a drink to bring back. Given the quality of most of our games this season I think that would be a very real possibility. At Brighton they serve the local ale of the away team in their end and then at the end of the match the two sets of fans are welcome to wander round the whole stadium, mingle and compare local beers. Might not happen for a Crystal Palace game, mind. I very much like the fact that the guy from Ipswich recognises that sensible exceptions should be made to any rules. He can't have been going to football for long...
