SFA praise decision to grant sales
The Scottish Football Association have hailed another “significant step forward” of controlled alcohol consumption inside a football stadium after it was confirmed supporters attending Scotland Women’s World Cup play-off tie against Czechia on Tuesday night will be able to drink from their seats.
The Scots take on the Czechs at St Mirren’s The Marbill Coaches Stadium holding a 2-0 lead in the quest to reach next summer’s finals and Renfrewshire Council have granted a licence for beer to be drunk from seats inside the Paisley venue.
This will be the first time that football fans have been able consume alcohol while viewing the pitch for more than 40 years, with sales permitted up until 15 minutes into the second half of the 7.15pm kick-off in the West and Main Stands.
Numerous Scottish Professional Football Clubs, including Aberdeen, Motherwell and Kilmarnock, have taken part in a pilot schemes on controlled alcohol consumption after applying for temporary licences. And the SFA hailed the latest move and said “appropriate security and stewarding measures” will be put in place.
A Scottish FA spokesperson told The Herald in a statement: “This is another significant step forward in the ongoing piloting of controlled alcohol consumption inside stadia.
“For the first time in decades, supporters in designated areas of the stadium can consume alcohol, purchased from concourse kiosks, in their seats.
“These sales will be managed in full accordance with licensing regulations, with appropriate security and stewarding measures in place. The aim of the initiative is to explore how a managed approach to alcohol sales can contribute to a positive and safe matchday experience.”