Drinking alcohol in the stands at Gtech

[Westlad]

Even if people don't intend to chuck beer, good luck if you've just come back with four beers just before a Bees goal.

I suppose it may help league two/conference clubs who are more reliant on income from the bar but will probably be minimal.

 

[roadealing]

Bellends that support England chuck beer in pubs.

I think people will think twice once the first person who does it gets kicked out or has their neck grabbed.

I think overall there will be a bedding in process, but the average fan will be able to drink responsibly and the bellends will become less and less

 

[RT]

Drinking during the game works down at Non-League as you can move about freely, still watch the game while queuing (dependent on ground but most have a bar that views the pitch) and move away from any idiots. As has been said above, being in a stand and having to get up and move for someone all the time is annoying.

Been to Gloucester Rugby a few times, and its annoying then if seated but they do sell double pinters which makes life easier I guess haha

 

[LongLostBee]

But seriously @aslan is right - a deposit on cups would soon stop people chucking them around.

Maybe if it's £100 or more.
Less than that and it won't be enough money for some people not to be cackling with laughter saying:
"hahah yeah I chucked my pint when we scored in the last minute. £30 lost but who cares!!!"

 

[NZ Bee]

Maybe if it's £100 or more.
Less than that and it won't be enough money for some people not to be cackling with laughter saying:
"hahah yeah I chucked my pint when we scored in the last minute. £30 lost but who cares!!!"

Maybe the best policy would be to ban last minute winners?

 

[New Old Bee]

Pros and cons to this. For me personally I wouldn't be drinking loads more but it would mean not having to rush pints before the game and then at half time. I wouldn't then have to watch the end of first half in the concourse to avoid the very long queues and might make the whole half time period less busy and packed. Would also means more fans in the stands at the end of the first half but more importantly the beginning of the second half, as there is always a lull in my part of the West Stand as people slowly make their way back to our seats.

I take people's point about people moving more during the game but wouldnt change much in the safe standing areas.

The chucking of beers during a goal celebration wound be very annoying but I would imagine a word with the people behind saying it's isn't cool would be enough.

Overall, not a massive issue either way in my opinion. I can't comment on the political aspects and motivation for it obviously

Already experienced being sprayed on the West Stand with bellends who smuggled beer bottles into the ground. "Having a word" after the event doesn't really help when you've got beer over your head. And yes, did have non-polite words & they moved, so probably tourists.

 

[JCMcBee]

I reckon at some point this will actually be trialled...and with regards to the GTech specifically.... probably in certain areas within the South Stand....'descrimination' eh....no irony there then....you have to laugh.

 

[Banana]

I'd bet they'd love for corporate areas to not have to close the blinds during the match.

Like I said, it will become a locally managed issue.

Drinking in sight of the pitch is a different matter to drinking in the seats themselves.

Anyone who has ever been to an international match at Twickers will know that this just leads to endless people getting up to go to the bar and returning carrying 4 pints. It would be a nightmare.

I don't really remember what happened before the law came in. Was the ground full of beer glasses? I don't remember anyone drinking on the terraces...

Not sure if this would require primary legislation change or the Home Secretary just removing the various competitions from the Statutory Instrument.

 

[mhead bee]

Pros- maybe people won't leave 10 minutes before half time and arrive back 10 minutes after making us all stand up repeatedly

Cons- people will be constantly getting up to refill or go to toilet every second of the game so we will be up and down non stop.

Can't people go 45 minutes without guzzling a beer, WTF is wrong with you, honestly. You have all day and night to drink.

 

[Banana]

I'd bet they'd love for corporate areas to not have to close the blinds during the match.

Some more thoughts.

This would mean that some would never leave the lounges, and some others would leave 20 mins before HT in order to secure their included bottle of beer and probably take 3/4 of them to get through to the other side of HT. It'd be a f***ing nightmare.

 

[mhead bee]

I'd bet they'd love for corporate areas to not have to close the blinds during the match.

Like I said, it will become a locally managed issue.

Not being able to drink in corporate areas is daft. Your own little private room with a glass window and the steward comes in and locks the fridge 10 mins before kick off. At least this was the case the last time I did this at Wycombe many years ago.

 

[Beelated]

There is obviously a generation of GPG’ers who were not watching football prior to the early 1980s and the reason that it was made illegal was that there was a huge hooligan problem in those days made worse by accessibility to alcohol. And, after the Heysel disaster in 1985, seating was made mandatory at grounds.

Since then, unless I’m mistaken, the level of threat and intimidation inside grounds has diminished considerably and policing methods have also improved making going to watch games a more enjoyable experience, especially for women supporters. There are still some crowd issues at games, but not on the same scale as years ago.

Will that change to go back to those dark days? That is the argument that needs to be addressed.

Personally, I don’t think so as people are more aware of what constitutes unreasonable behaviour and how to deal with it within stadia.

Another question is how often is someone likely to be constantly drinking throughout a game?

We have protocols in place at the Gtech to deal with unruly behaviour of fans, whether they are drinking or not, so these should be used if spectators are being disruptive.

 

[AB]

What on field event would make you be happy to risk losing your ST by celebrating with a festive beer launch?

 

[Jay Bee]

I'm inclined to think the starting point should be to assume that people can behave themselves until proven otherwise. Football, specifically pro level men's football, has been singled out by the law for a long time. And somehow that is how a lot football fans seem to want it to stay.

Yes maybe you need to be sensible about where it is allowed - i.e. no away ends, not family areas and maybe even the majority of seats. I'd have thought a safe standing area should be near the top of the list of places to try it .... as passing in and out should be less disruptive and alcohol = atmosphere apparently. But a drinking specific section probably leans towards the idea that it's OK to be stupid about it because "you're in the beer section what do you expect"

The Boxpark "thing" and the stream of clips you see during every England game have somehow glorified beer chucking in that situation (look I'm on TV doing a thing!) but I don't think you'd get this performative nonsense in the stands at a game.

Personally I'm not particularly keen on stadium beer in a plastic cup anyway, but when I do buy one it would be nice to be able to finish a beer in the stand.

 

[Windmill Rd Bee]

IMO public behaviour and etiquette in general, which was already deteriorating before the pandemic, absolutely fell through the floor after it. This is completely terrible idea.

 

[bees1984]

Already experienced being sprayed on the West Stand with bellends who smuggled beer bottles into the ground. "Having a word" after the event doesn't really help when you've got beer over your head. And yes, did have non-polite words & they moved, so probably tourists.

Well that is the worry. I was more saying before the horse has bolted in terms of having a word but I'm definitely not up for being soaked when we score, the reason I always avoid fan parks to watch international games.

Either way there isn't a lot being gained in my opinion

 

[JANORAK]

I’ve voted against in the poll. As others have said, we’ve done without for 40 years, and it doesn’t detract from my match day.
Most replies indicate the standpoint of, and applying to, the Gtech and its modern facilities. Allowing this change might cause unforeseen difficulties in other, older grounds. Would segregation need to be revisited? Fulham, where we all mingle pregame and at half time. Ipswich or Florist where both sets of fans are closely on top of each other. The possible upheaval might simply not be worth the hassle.

 

[Herbert]

Mixed feelings on it.

Itd be nice not to have to rush a pint to take your seat.

I can see the anti feel to it for the beer throwing donuts from goals.

I worry its just another addition to rhe americanisation of attending football in England now, loads of people sitting there eating and drinking while the games on, which would have an even more negative impact to the atmosphere.

 

[Slabs]

I'm in two minds.
I'm not sure it would increase people's alcohol intake but could change where they purchase it. Fans might come in a bit earlier as they know they can get a beer and take it with them. The half time huddle would likely decrease a bit as beer could be purchased throughout the game (not much different to people leaving early prior to half time to miss the queues).
I would be annoyed at anyone throwing beer over me in celebration though so we may need a bit of self policing to stop this early on.
Overall I think I'm in favour as I don't think it would increase alcohol intake but just change the purchase point.

 

[JCMcBee]

There is obviously a generation of GPG’ers who were not watching football prior to the early 1980s and the reason that it was made illegal was that there was a huge hooligan problem in those days made worse by accessibility to alcohol. And, after the Heysel disaster in 1985, seating was made mandatory at grounds.

Since then, unless I’m mistaken, the level of threat and intimidation inside grounds has diminished considerably and policing methods have also improved making going to watch games a more enjoyable experience, especially for women supporters. There are still some crowd issues at games, but not on the same scale as years ago.

Will that change to go back to those dark days? That is the argument that needs to be addressed.

Personally, I don’t think so as people are more aware of what constitutes unreasonable behaviour and how to deal with it within stadia.

Another question is how often is someone likely to be constantly drinking throughout a game?

We have protocols in place at the Gtech to deal with unruly behaviour of fans, whether they are drinking or not, so these should be used if spectators are being disruptive.

Personally...I concentrate on the game being played in front of me... rather than any other distractions....if others would rather be distracted by alcohol and a little 'social' in the stands.... rather than the actual game being played in front of them.... that's up to them ... but I'd rather not sit amongst them...as a football supporter...they are not individuals I would associate with... ever.... for me that's the issue here.... 'Americanisation'....as if VAR wasnt enough

 

[horshambees]

Silly populist nonsense (quick wins etc etc) makes a good headline for those he's unlikely to reach otherwise but as many other commentators have correctly noted the ban was put in place for a reason and everyone seems comfortable enough with it. He's just opened a can of worms really.

So was all seater football stadiums implemented for a very good reason.
I would like to think we have moved on and safe standing is a very good introduction.
Having a beer in a stadium in 2026 would be a lot different to drinking in a football stadium in 1986.
Yes the ban was brought in for a reason,but 40 years on we watch a different kind of football in a totally different environment in totally different stadiums.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Some good points, but i cant buy into the "no" element because people would be walking in and out.

Happens at every other sports ground.

Personally i dont think it would be that bad as some are making out.

Also some saying it was brought in for a reason..................... That reason was mainly due to the high levels of football violence, in an era where fans mixed in grounds etc and got away with it. We dont live in those times anymore.

Football fans being singled out and treated separately to other sports is sickening at times.

As for rubbish......................... The rubbish ive seen at rugby games and Army Navy for example is horrific.

 

[Edmundo]

Mixed feelings on it.

Itd be nice not to have to rush a pint to take your seat.

I can see the anti feel to it for the beer throwing donuts from goals.

I worry its just another addition to rhe americanisation of attending football in England now, loads of people sitting there eating and drinking while the games on, which would have an even more negative impact to the atmosphere.

This. Go to watch a sporting event in the States and it’s all about the food and alcohol you can consume, with the actual sport secondary. Going to the cinema these days is all about the drinks, popcorn and snacks. Keep football matches for watching football.

 

[JANORAK]

I worry its just another addition to rhe americanisation of attending football in England now, loads of people sitting there eating and drinking while the games on, which would have an even more negative impact to the atmosphere.

Good point. I already have a pair in front of me eating for half the game. Goodness knows how long it would take If they were adding regular pints as well.

 

[Ghost]

Constantly having to get up and down in seating is annoying af.

Get a hip flask.

 

[Hedley Lamarr]

Would be interesting to see the votes on other club forums, I bet Leeds is a yes

Brighton is 87% no

 

[Les Beeavinu]

There is obviously a generation of GPG’ers who were not watching football prior to the early 1980s and the reason that it was made illegal was that there was a huge hooligan problem in those days made worse by accessibility to alcohol. And, after the Heysel disaster in 1985, seating was made mandatory at grounds.

Since then, unless I’m mistaken, the level of threat and intimidation inside grounds has diminished considerably and policing methods have also improved making going to watch games a more enjoyable experience, especially for women supporters. There are still some crowd issues at games, but not on the same scale as years ago.

Will that change to go back to those dark days? That is the argument that needs to be addressed.

Personally, I don’t think so as people are more aware of what constitutes unreasonable behaviour and how to deal with it within stadia.

Another question is how often is someone likely to be constantly drinking throughout a game?

We have protocols in place at the Gtech to deal with unruly behaviour of fans, whether they are drinking or not, so these should be used if spectators are being disruptive.

I don't think it's alcohol that will lead young men to cause problems in stadiums these days.

 

[TW1Bee]

Bellends that pretend to support England chuck beer in pubs.

I think people will think twice once the first person who does it gets kicked out or has their neck grabbed.

I think overall there will be a bedding in process, but the average fan will be able to drink responsibly and the bellends will become less and less

Corrected for you.

 

[Bee(h)Iver]

Brighton is 87% no

Fulham 68% yes but only for champagne & Pimms...*

*this is a completely made up statistic. Like most of them...

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

Silly populist nonsense (quick wins etc etc) makes a good headline for those he's unlikely to reach otherwise but as many other commentators have correctly noted the ban was put in place for a reason and everyone seems comfortable enough with it. He's just opened a can of worms really.

Agreed. Pretty much the same vocabulary I used earlier (post deleted).

 

[N5022N122]

Have cup holders. Do egg chasers throw.beer?

 

[Guildford Bee]

Bellends that support England chuck beer in pubs.

I think people will think twice once the first person who does it gets kicked out or has their neck grabbed.

I think overall there will be a bedding in process, but the average fan will be able to drink responsibly and the bellends will become less and less

The people you describe in the first sentence have probably never been to an England game in their lives and only take an interest every two years.

 

[Alex]

But seriously @aslan is right - a deposit on cups would soon stop people chucking them around.

No it wouldn’t, there’s deposits on the cups at cricket and 100s of them just get left or turned into snakes.

 

[Kingston Bee]

Shut the bars during the game but allow people to take their drink to their seats with them that they buy before KO or at half time?

Fully agree, it may even mean that a group of people i sit near will be on time back to their seats for the second half, rather than 5 to 10 minutes late as is now. Its so bloody obvious, its not likely to happen, this is football we are talking about.

 

[FJBee]

Maybe they'd have dry stands - only in the West and South stands could you bring alcohol to the pitch, for example. I could see that working, and gives people the option to move and not have to deal with it if they want to.

 

[Justin Fisher]

The idea that this can be policed by 'having a word' or the threat of retribution by other fans is laughable. Is that really what we want to re-create? Judging by the GPG after most home games, we have enough trouble with away fans in home areas. God help us if this was extended to spillages.

 

[JCMcBee]

No it wouldn’t, there’s deposits on the cups at cricket and 100s of them just get left or turned into snakes.

I'll have you know the plastic beer cups at Lords are of a superior quality...I have several at home....throw them up in the air indeed

 

[Jakalo]

Voted no. I think we’d actually be alright at the Gtech, but it’s the away games I’d be bothered by.

When the Citeh stewards turned a blind eye and put up their hoods to us being pelted by coins, will we now have pints and/or piss thrown at us too?

Bournemouth it would work very nicely in the away sun trap. Leeds and Forest would be even more unbearable though.

 

[Keighley Bee]

Aside from beer that might be thrown by opposition supporters within range, or to celebrate a goal, how many will remember to wait for beer (yours or your neighbours) to be carefully placed on the floor before jumping up to celebrate a 30 yard Jensen screamer hitting the back of the net? My fear is it would end up everywhere.

 

[stevil]

I voted yes straight away. It was my want from my own point of view. After reading all the comments above, there are very sensible points raised. I will change my vote to no.

If everyone has survived 40 years not drinking 2 x 45 minutes, 20 plus times a year. I can continue to do so as well. Plenty of time ( not as much in the stadium because we've lost 30 minutes ) before and after.

Same here. I didn't vote immediately, but would've been a firm 'yes'. Have now said 'no'.

 

[olliebfc]

Echoing another point. I think football being such a low scoring game with such intense goal celebrations that we’re going to get accidentally covered in pints falling out of hands. Therefore I’m against it, unless it’s in bottles (or sippy cups ) unfortunately bottles won’t be allowed because of the missile element that they seem big on... bozos throwing their pints ala England would die a death quickly, I’d hope.

 

[BeesManMax]

I barely remember the games as is …

 

[aslan]

What on field event would make you be happy to risk losing your ST by celebrating with a festive beer launch?

Its not just launching the beer on purpose. Someone has the beer in their hand, we score, the person next to them jumps up to celebrate and knocks it out by accident.
Bad enough people stepping on feet when walking down the row to get to their seat. Add them spilling beer on me as they trip after stepping in my toe

 

[AB]

The idea that this can be policed by 'having a word' or the threat of retribution by other fans is laughable. Is that really what we want to re-create? Judging by the GPG after most home games, we have enough trouble with away fans in home areas. God help us if this was extended to spillages.

It would need to be done by stewarding and fans knowing that beer chucking etc was something that could be reported and would be acted on.

 

[whyteleafebee76]

It's yes for me Clive.

Perhaps we can have a beer throwing section as well as a singing section.

 

[SOTGBee]

No. Bad idea. Son got drenched in beer at the Euros and was genuinely incredibly upset about it. A kid, wet head to toe with beer, not right is it. Then having to travel home like that. He’s one who is not bothered by the bags of cans on the train people doing various aways and getting rowdy so it isn’t alcohol in itself. Someone took him to the Oval and the experience put him off cricket seemingly for life

People might not know this but public urination on rugby match days in the area of the GTech was always worse than on football match days. A genuine problem that gets brought up at council level and has an impact on licences etc in relation to Twickenham

 

[aslan]

Maybe they'd have dry stands - only in the West and South stands could you bring alcohol to the pitch, for example. I could see that working, and gives people the option to move and not have to deal with it if they want to.

f*** that. Why should I move where my ST is, to go sit in silence cos someone alky can't wait 45 minutes for a beer?

 

[CTBee]

Maybe they'd have dry stands - only in the West and South stands could you bring alcohol to the pitch, for example. I could see that working, and gives people the option to move and not have to deal with it if they want to.

What if you like standing and watching the game, enjoy the atmosphere of the West Stand but don't want beer chucked over you when a goal goes in?

 

[mhead bee]

What on field event would make you be happy to risk losing your ST by celebrating with a festive beer launch?

Enzo getting knocked spark out by Kev.

 

[mhead bee]

It's yes for me Clive.

Perhaps we can have a beer throwing section as well as a singing section.

Let’s get the singing sections singing first.