Drinking in the stands (15 Viewers)

cc84cov

Well-Known Member
My point is that (and I agree with @chiefdave on this) that the problem isn't with the stewards, it's with the fans and by extension the wider public.

Having a go at stewards for people taking drugs in a football stadium is somewhat missing the point.

Surely we can agree on that?
Agreed on your point

But...

Ok it’s blatant,stewards are seeing this in the toilets smoking sniffing coke drinking in the stands that stand and do nothing when there is little children around this,is this not part of their job ?
 

JAM See

Well-Known Member
Agreed on your point

But...

Ok it’s blatant,stewards are seeing this in the toilets smoking sniffing coke drinking in the stands that stand and do nothing when there is little children around this,is this not part of their job ?
I'm not sure it is mate. Minimum wage, confronted by a load of coked up idiots?

I wouldn't fancy it.

It's not nice to see that stuff going on in the toilets, but it shouldn't be up to stewards to police that sort of behavior, they are there to escort people to their seats and ensure that regulations are met.

We've had a lovely debate, but I stand by my original point. Stewards (and I'm not one) shouldn't be blamed for the increase in antisocial behaviour at football.
 

13th_choice_seamer

Well-Known Member
The police
Except usually, in the past, it has indeed been stewards who refuse entry to the seating area to anyone with a drink, or confiscate alcohol from anyone found possessing it in the stadium bowl. What's changed? If stewards are not there to enforce ground regulations then why bother to employ them?
 

cc84cov

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure it is mate. Minimum wage, confronted by a load of coked up idiots?

I wouldn't fancy it.

It's not nice to see that stuff going on in the toilets, but it shouldn't be up to stewards to police that sort of behavior, they are there to escort people to their seats and ensure that regulations are met.

We've gone on a lovely debate, but I stand by my original point. Stewards (and I'm not one) shouldn't be blamed for the increase in antisocial behaviour at football.
Stewards police control the security in that ground for me it’s their job to keep it safe secure etc I agree people should take responsibility and behave but it’s not gonna happen hence why police and security are employed at the ground it’s not just escorting people out it’s fans safety as their main concern Surly?
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Except usually, in the past, it has indeed been stewards who refuse entry to the seating area to anyone with a drink, or confiscate alcohol from anyone found possessing it in the stadium bowl. What's changed? If stewards are not there to enforce ground regulations then why bother to employ them?

I guess what I'm saying is that it probably shouldn't be left to people without the authority to enforce the law and carry out arrests for flagrant breaches of it.

Police for the most part get paid well to stand there on matchday and not do a great deal-let's at least get some value for money and crack down on this kind of behaviour at the same time.
 

Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue

Well-Known Member
Price and availability…. It’s readily available and it’s cheap. It seems to have become the norm as part of a night out….

Genuine question, is it that available? If I wanted to indulge in a bag of gear, I wouldn’t even know who to ask or contact up here to get it. Secondly is this stuff that’s being consumed strong enough to have any effect beyond a minor buzz? It’s being pointed at for a lot of behaviour but then others argue it’s virtually washing powder.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Obviously a different type of venue / event but when I was running music venues drug taking was very much the responsibility of the venue staff & doormen. In fact if the police did have to deal with it you'd be up before the licensing committee having to explain why there was drug use in your venue.

I guess the difference here is the club are paying the police to be there and it may fall under their responsibilities. Should be a pretty easy one for Boddy to clear up.
 

JAM See

Well-Known Member
Genuine question, is it that available? If I wanted to indulge in a bag of gear, I wouldn’t even know who to ask or contact up here to get it. Secondly is this stuff that’s being consumed strong enough to have any effect beyond a minor buzz? It’s being pointed at for a lot of behaviour but then others argue it’s virtually washing powder.
This article is four years old,.,I'm not an expert on cocaine but...

 

Saddlebrains

Well-Known Member
Tbf I've had enough of it

Looking at all putting toward a box next year there's about 8 or 9 of us that go regularly.

Im sick of taking my daughter to the bog and there's piss everywhere, empty coke bags on the floor, even had to wipe some off the bog roll holders before. Let alone the influx of manbag sporting chavs that seem to be everywhere now

Not what I want to be seeing with a 7 year old girl asking questions
 

cc84cov

Well-Known Member
Tbf I've had enough of it

Looking at all putting toward a box next year there's about 8 or 9 of us that go regularly.

Im sick of taking my daughter to the bog and there's piss everywhere, empty coke bags on the floor, even had to wipe some off the bog roll holders before. Let alone the influx of manbag sporting chavs that seem to be everywhere now

Not what I want to be seeing with a 7 year old girl asking questions
100% agree mate it’s sad isn’t it
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Not sure a thread of people saying they’re going to buy more expensive tickets to avoid it is going to motivate the club to solve the problem. But maybe I’m cynical.
 

cc84cov

Well-Known Member
Not sure a thread of people saying they’re going to buy more expensive tickets to avoid it is going to motivate the club to solve the problem. But maybe I’m cynical.
The club will do nothing,I’m not putting my kids around it it’s been going on every week mate
 

MTK

Well-Known Member
I haven’t seen any coke consumption - is it mostly in the gents‘ toilets? There was a strong smell of weed in the first half yesterday (block 16) which has happened before and is pretty nauseating. The standing all game has spread into block 16 recently. I choose to sit in that section - love the atmosphere and singing - but if it continues and spreads further down, I’d have to rethink my seat. I can’t stand all game. I accept it‘s the norm at away games and that I’ll miss parts of the game to sit for a few minutes but I don’t want to do that at home. Since going back after Covid, I’ve also noticed the bad lanaguage. I must just have been accustomed to it before, and I do swear myself sometimes but the constant use of the c word in particular really grates on me. I’ve absolutely loved the football this season but after 50+ years of going, the match day experience not so much.
 

Covkid1968#

Well-Known Member
Genuine question, is it that available? If I wanted to indulge in a bag of gear, I wouldn’t even know who to ask or contact up here to get it. Secondly is this stuff that’s being consumed strong enough to have any effect beyond a minor buzz? It’s being pointed at for a lot of behaviour but then others argue it’s virtually washing powder.
Ive seen it being passed around like it’s a cheeky hip flask. I’m 50 plus… live in a tiny village… mix with people I’ve been around for years…many respectable professionals aging from 40 to 60. And yet on nights out have had lines racked up and offered as part of a night out and been offered it as part of a football day out, asked if I want to contribute to a bag. That sort of behaviour is way back in my past but I can see how young guys would have even more opportunities and feel inclined to get on it if their mates are… then they turn into dicks… trouble is if the whole group are dicks they probably don’t recognise anything wrong in their own behaviour. As to the quality… I’ve no idea. But I think we can all imagine it’s cut with all sorts of crap in there.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
It’s a silly argument to say stewards can control drunken morons who break rules. The one in my section at the entrance is a young girl she looks about 20

these aren’t security guards they are people earning a few pounds doing a pretty dull job but without whom we can’t play

if there is drugs being done in the toilets report it to the authorities so they can take action - a few years ago i had to collect a ticket on match day as I’d lost mine and the bloke in front was calling some young girl a bitch and telling her to fuck off. I just wandered over to a policeman nearby and he dragged him away - not hard is it
 

Saddlebrains

Well-Known Member
It’s a silly argument to say stewards can control drunken morons who break rules. The one in my section at the entrance is a young girl she looks about 20

these aren’t security guards they are people earning a few pounds doing a pretty dull job but without whom we can’t play

if there is drugs being done in the toilets report it to the authorities so they can take action - a few years ago i had to collect a ticket on match day as I’d lost mine and the bloke in front was calling some young girl a bitch and telling her to fuck off. I just wandered over to a policeman nearby and he dragged him away - not hard is it


Thing is on the back of this, said drunken/whiffed up morons then kick off when confronted. Catch fucking 22

Im sat there with a 12 and 7 year old. Do i allow it and let them think its the norm? No.

Do i report it to a steward/copper/confront the twat, then leading to said drunken/whiffed up prick giving it the violence retort in front of the kids? Fuck that

The atmosphere has been fantastic and no doubt the noise created has led to many a poi t being gained this year.

But theres no getting away from the fact that we've got a new breed of c**t, and also so many blokes having a mid life crisis and thinking invading pitches etc is banter
 

13th_choice_seamer

Well-Known Member
So in your view whose responsibility is it to prevent drinking in stands / drug abuse in the ground? Not stewards, not fans.....?

The police

Well as much as I wouldn't mess with Sting
a) there's only 3 of them
b) they're all 70+ now and
c) no real prospect of them getting back together - certainly not for minimum wage steward wages. Copeland and Summers don't need that sort of money.
 

ajsccfc

Well-Known Member
There was a number on the scoreboard for reporting issues, I assume via text message. Don't know how good the response is for that but may be an option
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Well as much as I wouldn't mess with Sting
a) there's only 3 of them
b) they're all 70+ now and
c) no real prospect of them getting back together - certainly not for minimum wage steward costs. Copeland and Summers don't need that sort of money.

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SkyBlueMatt

Well-Known Member
I don't want drinking in the stands but the odd person bringing a pint up, as long as they don't chuck it over someone since that seems to be the moronic thing to do when a goal is scored. Its not really hurting anyone?

As for coke, more needs to be done about it. I don't partake but considering I'm normally on the beers, I've noticed how bad it is. So those that are more family orientated, especially those with young kids, its going to be a really negative experience.

Its a much wider problem though and football just has a big audience of that age range. It seems to be everywhere on a Friday and Saturday night.

I'm not condoning or excusing anything but I've heard people called those blocks 'asbo corner' since the ground opened. I don't think it would be a shock to find antisocial behaviour there.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
I haven’t seen any coke consumption - is it mostly in the gents‘ toilets? There was a strong smell of weed in the first half yesterday (block 16) which has happened before and is pretty nauseating. The standing all game has spread into block 16 recently. I choose to sit in that section - love the atmosphere and singing - but if it continues and spreads further down, I’d have to rethink my seat. I can’t stand all game. I accept it‘s the norm at away games and that I’ll miss parts of the game to sit for a few minutes but I don’t want to do that at home. Since going back after Covid, I’ve also noticed the bad lanaguage. I must just have been accustomed to it before, and I do swear myself sometimes but the constant use of the c word in particular really grates on me. I’ve absolutely loved the football this season but after 50+ years of going, the match day experience not so much.

Smell of weed around 25/26 as well.
 

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
I was in block 25 today. Didn't see any of it.

Saw some the other night but I think the steward at the top of the stairs was otherwise engaged and the lads just bumbled up.

The cocaine in the toilets thing is more worrying. Couple of lads today doing it without bothering to go into a cubicle. Kids around too.

Not a nice look.
There was a bloke/lad stood outside at the end of the cardiff game, reminded me of when I used to leave those brummie nightclubs in the 90s…absolutely off his face.
I can’t decide if I’m outraged or jealous!
 

SBT

Well-Known Member
I agree we shouldn’t be expecting stewards to be performing citizens arrests around the stadium, but going by how the police tend to behave on match days, I’m not sure having more of them intervening more often is likely to calm things down.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
I agree we shouldn’t be expecting stewards to be performing citizens arrests around the stadium, but going by how the police tend to behave on match days, I’m not sure having more of them intervening more often is likely to calm things down.

Well dragging a few into a van and giving them an 80s style kick in and telling them to tell their mates they’ll be next might do the trick
 

13th_choice_seamer

Well-Known Member
I don't want drinking in the stands but the odd person bringing a pint up, as long as they don't chuck it over someone since that seems to be the moronic thing to do when a goal is scored. Its not really hurting anyone?

Well if it's banned (and that's in law, so not the club's choice) you have to restrict it. Otherwise we risk getting into licensing issues and a possible sanction like a fine which, judging by our latest accounts, we can't really afford.


If the authorities did decide to unban drinking in stadiums, one way to do it would be to create mandatory "dry areas" in grounds and have segregated areas where drinking is allowed in the seating, not allowing for any movement between the two. At the Ricoh, I'm thinking that the central 6 blocks in the East Stand and the whole West stand could be designated as drinking areas i.e. the responsible/family sections where people generally remain seated and frankly can be trusted to enjoy a pint without doing anything anti-social.

The rest of the ground where people stand, sing and are generally more rowdy would be designated "dry" to minimise the chance of trouble emerging. You would need a partition to stop people moving between the blocks, both in the bowl and on the concourse though, which might cause problems. To be fair this idea would work better at grounds (like HR!) with 4 separate stands rather than a continuous bowl.

I do think that could give us the best of both worlds;
- more revenue through F&B sales
- more people turning up who like a responsible drink at the ground
- safer/more enjoyable experience for families

Thoughts?
 

SBT

Well-Known Member
Well dragging a few into a van and giving them an 80s style kick in and telling them to tell their mates they’ll be next might do the trick

Yes, I’m sure recreating the 1980s matchday experience will make the families feel safer in the ground.
 

13th_choice_seamer

Well-Known Member
i generally don't know, but do they allow drinking in he stands for wasps games
UK law bans drinking at football but not other sports. I have drunk beer in stands watching cricket, rugby, horse racing and rugby league without assaulting anyone, but it's the knobhead minority they're worried about. Judging by events this season e.g. Derby, lifting the ban may be unwise.
 

Terry_dactyl

Well-Known Member
UK law bans drinking at football but not other sports. I have drunk beer in stands watching cricket, rugby, horse racing and rugby league without assaulting anyone, but it's the knobhead minority they're worried about. Judging by events this season e.g. Derby, lifting the ban may be unwise.
Problems associated with Drinking during the Rugby internationals has become a major problem in Wales.
I think they now close the bars at halftime and serve weaker lager generally.
 

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