Should you be able to have a beer when watching the game at The Ricoh? (5 Viewers)

[oucho]

You can have a beer at cricket, rugby and other sports so in theory football should be no different. Would this lead to trouble? Maybe, but it's not "the bad old days" any more.

Perhaps this could be allowed in a controlled way e.g. there could be blocks of the ground where you are allowed to drink, but other blocks where it's banned, and enable only trusted fans (i.e. those with STs or those signed up to a "responsible drinking" scheme run by the club or EFL) in the "wet" area to drink at their seat. When bringing beer into the stadium bowl you would have to show your ST or scheme ID to the steward and they would have to ensure you didn't toddle off to the (presumably "dry") naughty corner. Yes at our ground you would have the issue of fans moving from "dry" to "wet" but at other grounds without many empty seats this could work. It would be quite hard to administer but it's not as if something along these lines couldn't work - maybe it could be allowed for lower-key games with a less likelihood of trouble e.g. not Sunderland at home.

 

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[torchomatic]

Yes, 100%

If someone is taking the piss and is causing trouble then deal with them but I reckon most fans would behave and it'd make for a better atmosphere at most grounds.

Why would people drinking create atmosphere?

 

[Otis]

You can have a beer at cricket, rugby and other sports so in theory football should be no different. Would this lead to trouble? Maybe, but it's not "the bad old days" any more.

Perhaps this could be allowed in a controlled way e.g. there could be blocks of the ground where you are allowed to drink, but other blocks where it's banned, and enable only trusted fans (i.e. those with STs or those signed up to a "responsible drinking" scheme run by the club or EFL) in the "wet" area to drink at their seat. When bringing beer into the stadium bowl you would have to show your ST or scheme ID to the steward and they would have to ensure you didn't toddle off to the (presumably "dry") naughty corner. Yes at our ground you would have the issue of fans moving from "dry" to "wet" but at other grounds without many empty seats this could work. It would be quite hard to administer but it's not as if something along these lines couldn't work - maybe it could be allowed for lower-key games with a less likelihood of trouble e.g. not Sunderland at home.

Thing is Oucho, they don't have trouble at rugby and cricket games.

At the moment trouble is being controlled within football grounds and skirmishes pretty much only happen outside.

Would alcohol in the ground inflame things? Not sure, but it's definitely a possibility.

 

[Magwitch]

I’ve been to rugger once at Ricoh, Leicester full house, fans mixing together, drinking galore everywhere, in the concourse and the stands while watching, no one pissed or offensive, wanting to fight anybody and everybody, to be honest I wouldn’t trust most of our lot in hell fire corner with fucking wine gums

 

[clint van damme]

I’ve been to rugger once at Ricoh, Leicester full house, fans mixing together, drinking galore everywhere, in the concourse and the stands while watching, no one pissed or offensive, wanting to fight anybody and everybody, to be honest I wouldn’t trust most in hell fire corner with fucking wine gums

that's far more shameful behavior than anything a pissed up chav from the naughty corner could get up to.

 

[Skybluefaz]

It would need to be confined to certain areas for the reasons people have spoken about

 

[Hobo]

Yes, 100%

If someone is taking the piss and is causing trouble then deal with them but I reckon most fans would behave and it'd make for a better atmosphere at most grounds.

Have you ever dealt with someone totally pissed and their rational? Waiting for that goldfish of logic to swim round their head?

 

[Hobo]

You can have a beer at cricket, rugby and other sports so in theory football should be no different. Would this lead to trouble? Maybe, but it's not "the bad old days" any more.

Perhaps this could be allowed in a controlled way e.g. there could be blocks of the ground where you are allowed to drink, but other blocks where it's banned, and enable only trusted fans (i.e. those with STs or those signed up to a "responsible drinking" scheme run by the club or EFL) in the "wet" area to drink at their seat. When bringing beer into the stadium bowl you would have to show your ST or scheme ID to the steward and they would have to ensure you didn't toddle off to the (presumably "dry") naughty corner. Yes at our ground you would have the issue of fans moving from "dry" to "wet" but at other grounds without many empty seats this could work. It would be quite hard to administer but it's not as if something along these lines couldn't work - maybe it could be allowed for lower-key games with a less likelihood of trouble e.g. not Sunderland at home.

Unfortunately, football fans seem to be different. Also attending cricket and rugby games more and more fans who are just there to get pissed are really pissing me off!!

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Beer at football = soggy stewards and angry dads when their kids have got covered in it. Shame, but it's what would happen.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Some people by me can't go more than 30 minutes

Some stayed at the bar for the whole game at Charlton couldn't have seen one minute of the game.

What is the point of going all the way there paying to get in then not watching the game.

 

[Nick]

Some stayed at the bar for the whole game at Charlton couldn't have seen one minute of the game.

What is the point of going all the way there paying to get in then not watching the game.

I don't get it

There's a guy who gets to his seat about ten minutes in, back down on 35, back on about 50 then leaves at about 85 regardless of score.

Why not just go to the pub and get better beer for cheaper?

At Wembley people just stayed in the bar concourse too.

 

[rob9872]

You're all focusing on getting wet. I don't want it because of people annoying the hell out of me up and down like yoyos. You've got all week including directly before or after and at half time so if you can't manage 45 minutes without then tough!

 

[usskyblue]

They bring it to your seats here m8

 

[Covstu]

Personally I think its a good idea, part of the reason for drunken stupid behaviour is the current ban encourages binge drinking before the game, and leads to people being more pissed up than they need to be. Being able to have a pint or 2 in your seat will lead to less binge drinking in the longer term IMO. People drink at cricket, rugby, ice hockey etc without issue, yes there are always idiots but the current set up encourages rather than discourages poor drunkn behaviour.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Agree with spreading the drinking out, you see people tanking it down em before and half time like it’s last orders. You can’t compare to their sports unfortunately due to the tribal nature and sadly it will result in knobheads throwing beer everywhere.

 

[Covstu]

You're all focusing on getting wet. I don't want it because of people annoying the hell out of me up and down like yoyos. You've got all week including directly before or after and at half time so if you can't manage 45 minutes without then tough!

I stand so doesn’t bother me too much but yes everyone up and down will become irritating

 

[vow]

They bring it to your seats here m8

With First-Aid kit too?! anda:

 

[usskyblue]

With First-Aid kit too?! anda:

Once I had a baseball ‘delivered’ m8...and a couple of medics followed soon after.

 

[vow]

I know m8, saw your boat race on GMK :emoji_baseball:

 

[ccfcway]

the easiest thing to do would be to ensure fans have enough to drink before the game so they don't want anything during the game.

maybe a free bar boat would work ?

 

[Liquid Gold]

I am at the back of the stand and keep hold of my beer so am all for it.

 

[oucho]

Thing is Oucho, they don't have trouble at rugby and cricket games.

At the moment trouble is being controlled within football grounds and skirmishes pretty much only happen outside.

Would alcohol in the ground inflame things? Not sure, but it's definitely a possibility.

I think that's why you have stewarding to ensure that nobody with alcohol can pass into certain areas of the ground (dry areas would have strict stewarding preventing alcohol being taken in, as at present, and there would have to be no way of walking between "wet" and "dry" blocks e.g. using netting to prevent people darting across).

If you limited this to low key games, to avoid trouble, it could work - might even bring a few more fans in and encourage the caterers to improve the quality the beer (it's better than it was but still room for improvement).

 

[Liquid Gold]

Just realised Wasps would get the cash, decided it's a bad idea.

 

[Sick Boy]

I've done it watching Serie A and it worked fine but not sure it would work in the UK, you'd get the morons deliberately chucking full pints everywhere after a goal.

 

[fellatio_Martinez]

Why would people drinking create atmosphere?

Isn't it obvious? Alcohol makes people louder and more inclined to sing and create a buzz.

Also, the type of scum that would cause trouble wouldn't pay £4-5 for a pint so I don't think we should worry too much about them.

I'd at least give it a trial run.

 

[block16]

great idea - get the pints in

 

[block16]

People can get steaming before and at half time anyway 1 or 2 beers during the actual game won’t make any odds

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Been to Twickenham to watch England.
You are forever getting up while they stock up with beer or have to go for a piss..
It does get on your nerves after a while.

 

[covcity4life]

100% no

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

If a human can't go for 45 minutes without the need for alcohol then we are all in trouble.
I would not be pleased if someone was throwing beer around, if fact it would be a confrontation.
I have gone to watch my team for over 50 years and frankly in terms of comfort and calmness I have enjoyed it much better since alcohol was banned for the reasons mentioned elsewhere but especially with seating it does become tedious, standing wasn't an issue because fans were always moving.
All this "it's just banter, it's just lads being lads" is bollocks. It's low life's being low life's and if someone needs to be lashed to create an atmosphere then I despair.

 

[Covstu]

Isn't it obvious? Alcohol makes people louder and more inclined to sing and create a buzz.

Also, the type of scum that would cause trouble wouldn't pay £4-5 for a pint so I don't think we should worry too much about them.

I'd at least give it a trial run.

Sadly they will be the people who would buy. Can’t remember who we played last year on a firday night, but it was a warm day and clearly most were drinking through the day. The atmosphere was fantastic! Everyone was in a good mood so a great day but I could see after a loss then it could go sour.

 

[clint van damme]

If a human can't go for 45 minutes without the need for alcohol then we are all in trouble.
I would not be pleased if someone was throwing beer around, if fact it would be a confrontation.
I have gone to watch my team for over 50 years and frankly in terms of comfort and calmness I have enjoyed it much better since alcohol was banned for the reasons mentioned elsewhere but especially with seating it does become tedious, standing wasn't an issue because fans were always moving.
All this "it's just banter, it's just lads being lads" is bollocks. It's low life's being low life's and if someone needs to be lashed to create an atmosphere then I despair.

it's not about not being able to go without alcohol, it's about enjoying a drink while watching an event.
Same as you can do at a gig, at the rugby, at the cricket.
I appreciate supporters have contributed to this with their behaviour over the years but I think it's time they at least trialled it. There are definitely some genuine concerns, some of which you've highlighted.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

There are some right wet weekends on this thread.

I understand it's not very nice to get coated in a pint after a goal, but there is no way that should be a reason why booze shouldn't be allowed.

Match days would generally be more of an experience if you had the option of a few brews.

If they could install safe standing we could have a real party.

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

By and large I think it has been tried and abused. Hence we are in this position. Football fans have shown that the best way to watch a game is to have alcohol excluded from the arena.
History you may say, I give you Milton Keynes and Wembley last season.
I wish that fans could be trusted and enjoy a drink as other sports can manage to do but I see enough bad behavior at games to know that us wet weekends( by courtesy of Earlsdon Sky Blue) are the silent majority in this argument.
If it takes your enjoyment of having a drink to spoil my enjoyment then I say keep it as it is.

 

[clint van damme]

By and large I think it has been tried and abused. Hence we are in this position. Football fans have shown that the best way to watch a game is to have alcohol excluded from the arena.
History you may say, I give you Milton Keynes and Wembley last season.
I wish that fans could be trusted and enjoy a drink as other sports can manage to do but I see enough bad behavior at games to know that us wet weekends( by courtesy of Earlsdon Sky Blue) are the silent majority in this argument.
If it takes your enjoyment of having a drink to spoil my enjoyment then I say keep it as it is.

but people do drink before, at half time and after games. They leave the pub as late as possible, they try and throw 2 or 3 pints down their neck at half time, this would negate the need to do that. It's like when pub opening hours extended, people drank in a more relaxed manner.
I think it's at least worth trying.
And seen as you are putting your opinion forward on a public forum you're not silent, you are having your say. Why does everyone try and make out they haven't got a voice these days?

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

anybody who is binge drinking to enjoy a game of any sport is going to lose this argument.