Ground Alcohol Ban To Stay In Place

Scotland's new justice secretary has dismissed calls from the head of the Scottish Football Association to permit the sale of alcohol at grounds.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said he hopes to persuade the police and the government that Scotland is now a responsible nation'', and that football fans have moved on from the troubles of the 1980s.

Speaking at the the first SFA convention this week, he pointed to Australia where sales of lower alcohol beer increased after being trialled at football matches.

Earlier at the convention, sport promoter Barry Hearn described the alcohol ban as archaic'' in a speech lamenting the poor attendances at Scottish football.

But Justice Secretary Michael Matheson, who replaced Kenny MacAskill two weeks ago, said he has no plans to reintroduce alcohol to football stadiums''.

This is an issue that was raised a couple of years ago by the SFA and by some of the senior football clubs in Scotland.

But we have got no plans to change that, and even if there was any consideration of looking at this matter there would have to be a consultation with the police, other enforcement bodies and local authorities to consider what the implications were.''