Scottish Labour Calls For End To Football Booze Ban

Scottish Labour has revealed plans for a consultation on alcohol sales at football grounds.

Party leader Jim Murphy said football supporters should not be treated differently from rugby fans at Murrayfield, where drinking is permitted.

A meeting will be held at Hampden on Friday to allow the party to gauge views.

Representatives from the Scottish Football Association, football clubs and Police Scotland will be invited to attend.

Labour will also consult the public via its website, football forums, Twitter and Facebook, and members will hand out leaflets at matches asking for supporters' opinions.

Mr Murphy said: In a country where rugby fans can rightly drink and corporate hospitality football fans can rightly drink, today's generation of football supporters are paying for the sins and the crimes of Scottish football fans from 1980.

I think we should stop criminalising football fans and stop treating them as uniquely incapable of drinking in moderation and enjoying a sporting occasion.''

The MP said the attitude towards football fans in Scotland had a degree of a kind of class prejudice''.

Celtic fan Mr Murphy, who is teetotal, said: As someone who loves football and who wants to keep football what it has become - a family sport - I think we should try the careful introduction of drinking alcohol in football stadia and listen to football's opinion.

It's about treating football fans as adults and, done properly, it can improve the experience of the stands. This can't and shouldn't be driven by a desire of football clubs to boost their income or fleece supporters.

We are going to do a really comprehensive consultation, initially with football supporters and finally with people who live near football grounds, for example.''

The alcohol ban was initially imposed following a riot at the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic but alcohol can be served in corporate hospitality areas of football stadiums.