Drinking alcohol in the stands at Gtech (35 Viewers)

[Jezybee]

Thinking what affect it might have on atmospheres that Clubs are working hard to improve? On one hand a drink might help some of the more reserved to get involved. On the other people walking in and out or being more preoccupied with their drink has the potential to negatively impact things.
Will Fulham have to invent clappers that can be operated with one hand? Still, no room for the clapper if you have a pint of Pimms in one hand and are waving a surrender flag with the other.

 

[paulmaddy]

I think all the seats would need cup holders added on the back for this to work well and avoid too much beer spilling/throwing.

I wouldn't mind being able to bring a pre match or half time beer back to my seat to finish leisurely during the game.

 

[Leicester Bee]

I'm in favour of it so long as a pilot scheme is implemented first. They would need to select a handful of clubs throughout the divisions and implement it for a minimum of a month so they can observe what happens after the novelty wears off.
Following that, decisions must be made by individual clubs following consultation with police and licensing, with immediate bans being imposed if incidents are getting out of hand.
It's daft, in this day and age, not to at least trial it. Crowds have changed beyond recognition since the ban was imposed.

I predict that after the novelty wears off, people will be pretty chilled about it. But I could be very wrong, so that's why I'm in favour of a pilot scheme.

 

[AB]

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

People take the snakes back for the deposits and get a free drink.

 

[Alex]

People take the snakes back for the deposits and get a free drink.

Not the people that bought them, they don’t care for getting the deposit back

 

[Ghost]

I'm in favour of it so long as a pilot scheme is implemented first. They would need to select a handful of clubs throughout the divisions and implement it for a minimum of a month so they can observe what happens after the novelty wears off.
Following that, decisions must be made by individual clubs following consultation with police and licensing, with immediate bans being imposed if incidents are getting out of hand.
It's daft, in this day and age, not to at least trial it. Crowds have changed beyond recognition since the ban was imposed.

I predict that after the novelty wears off, people will be pretty chilled about it. But I could be very wrong, so that's why I'm in favour of a pilot scheme.

Hell of a kerfuffle when people can just wait 45 mins to drink.

 

[Ghost]

People take the snakes back for the deposits and get a free drink.

This isn't the Wissa thread.

 

[cheshirebee]

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...

Good point.
I go back to the 70’s and I don’t ever remember drinking on the terraces.
Of course, 3pm kick offs would have been outside opening hours but evening kick offs would have been during opening hours.
I guess there was nowhere in the ground, apart from the Bees Club/Centre Circle to buy beer anyway.

 

[FJBee]

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?

Like anything in life, no solution is going to be absolutely fair to absolutely everyone. It's also just a comment on a forum, not a fully fledged plan.

Another way to look at it. In a world where drink is allowed, no one is being forced to move. It's up to you to move if you want to.

In your plan, you're banning everyone from drinking for your own comfort. One of those is significantly less fair than the other.

 

[aslan]

Like anything in life, no solution is going to be absolutely fair to absolutely everyone. It's also just a comment on a forum, not a fully fledged plan.

Another way to look at it. In a world where drink is allowed, no one is being forced to move. It's up to you to move if you want to.

In your plan, you're banning everyone from drinking for your own comfort. One of those is significantly less fair than the other.

Yeah, let me smoke in the stand then. Only banning it for other people's comfort. So unfair

 

[Ghost]

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.

Yup, file under "I want it, so why can't I have it".

Adults eating hotdogs and nachos dripping with sauce at the cinema winds me up. My own bloody family do it.

Get popcorn and a drink like a normal person.

Drink before or after the game, it really is that simple.

 

[aslan]

I'm in favour of it so long as a pilot scheme is implemented first. They would need to select a handful of clubs throughout the divisions and implement it for a minimum of a month so they can observe what happens after the novelty wears off.
Following that, decisions must be made by individual clubs following consultation with police and licensing, with immediate bans being imposed if incidents are getting out of hand.
It's daft, in this day and age, not to at least trial it. Crowds have changed beyond recognition since the ban was imposed.

I predict that after the novelty wears off, people will be pretty chilled about it. But I could be very wrong, so that's why I'm in favour of a pilot scheme.

Yep. Run the pilot at Elland Road.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

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.

Were you around in the 70s and 80s when behaviour at football was a million times worse than it is now?

 

[JCMcBee]

I'm in favour of it so long as a pilot scheme is implemented first. They would need to select a handful of clubs throughout the divisions and implement it for a minimum of a month so they can observe what happens after the novelty wears off.
Following that, decisions must be made by individual clubs following consultation with police and licensing, with immediate bans being imposed if incidents are getting out of hand.
It's daft, in this day and age, not to at least trial it. Crowds have changed beyond recognition since the ban was imposed.

I predict that after the novelty wears off, people will be pretty chilled about it. But I could be very wrong, so that's why I'm in favour of a pilot scheme.

...so.... which particular part of the GTech would you trial this in....the whole ground... because I'm fairly certain there would be differences across the four stands...for example...zero incidents in the South and several in the West would be interesting........what happens then....more 'discrimination' moving forward.... banned in the West but not in the South...yet more divisions created?

 

[Edmundo]

I'm in favour of it so long as a pilot scheme is implemented first. They would need to select a handful of clubs throughout the divisions and implement it for a minimum of a month so they can observe what happens after the novelty wears off.

A month is probably two home games. Do you think the novelty will wear off that quickly?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

...so.... which particular part of the GTech would you trial this in....the whole ground... because I'm fairly certain there would be differences across the four stands...for example...zero incidents in the South and several in the West would be interesting........what happens then....more 'discrimination' moving forward.... banned in the West but not in the South...yet more divisions created?

It does seem ludicrous to me anyway that people might think excluding / only allowing certain stands would be an acceptable solution.

 

[pumpkin pie]

No. Being covered in beer, having to sit wet and smelly is not good
Also people going to the toilet frequently is also a big no, it's a nuisance now, if they're drinking more it will be worse.

 

[HMDBFC]

Another point. As it stands now the match acts as a useful firebreak for alcohol consumption. We all know that the effects of alcohol are cumulative and progressive and continuous drinking therefore will undoubtedly mean trouble...

 

[Bigbee]

No from me , many reasons , football is in danger of being turned into a theatre

 

[Justin Fisher]

Yup, file under "I want it, so why can't I have it".

Adults eating hotdogs and nachos dripping with sauce at the cinema winds me up. My own bloody family do it.

Get popcorn and a drink like a normal person.

Drink before or after the game, it really is that simple.

Don't get me started on people stuffing their faces at the cinema! Even popcorn is bad given the gargantuan size of the buckets. Just watch the sodding film!

 

[JCMcBee]

It does seem ludicrous to me anyway that people might think excluding / only allowing certain stands would be an acceptable solution.

...indeed...but the source of this discussion came from an individual who I assume only ever frequents a section of the ground which in all probability actually would be a safe place to have a drink during a game...that being said....stick that individual in with his teams away support at any given ground in the country...and let him then reconsider his theory that football supporters are discriminated against.

 

[Ghost]

Don't get me started on people stuffing their faces at the cinema! Even popcorn is bad given the gargantuan size of the buckets. Just watch the sodding film!

I am partial to some popcorn I have to say, but yes the sizes these days are ridiculous, I agree.

 

[Sultan]

Can you bring your own like the old days on the terraces? Just plastic bottles I hope. Just found a good deal. Limit plastic bottles to two each. Who's in?

 

[AB]

...so.... which particular part of the GTech would you trial this in....the whole ground... because I'm fairly certain there would be differences across the four stands...for example...zero incidents in the South and several in the West would be interesting........what happens then....more 'discrimination' moving forward.... banned in the West but not in the South...yet more divisions created?

Divisions or just having different offers to different fans? I don’t think anyone would feel there was some nefarious plot if drinking in the family area remained banned.

Having it allowed only in East would probably see a lot of STs moving there.

My guess would be any trial in GA would start with the Dugout.

 

[aslan]

Divisions or just having different offers to different fans? I don’t think anyone would feel there was some nefarious plot if drinking in the family area remained banned.

Having it allowed only in East would probably see a lot of STs moving there.

My guess would be any trial in GA would start with the Dugout.

I would very much hope that BIAS would argue for what the majority of fans want ..

 

[aslan]

Beer at the seats would ruin the matchday experience for many.
No beer in the seats doesn't run it for anyone.

 

[AB]

...so.... which particular part of the GTech would you trial this in....the whole ground... because I'm fairly certain there would be differences across the four stands...for example...zero incidents in the South and several in the West would be interesting........what happens then....more 'discrimination' moving forward.... banned in the West but not in the South...yet more divisions created?

Divisions or just having different offers to different fans? I don’t think anyone would feel there was some nefarious plot if drinking in the family area remained banned.

Having it allowed only in East would probably see a lot of STs moving there.

My guess would be any trial in GA would start with the Dugout.

 

[AB]

I would very much hope that BIAS would argue for what the majority of fans want ..

Yes- it’s why I made the thread to get a first look at the range of opinion. I don’t know what the club’s view is on this as annoyingly the story broke too late to get anyone to ask Varney at his BU Q&A.

But there’s a spectrum of options at the level of Gtech between the current absolute ban and free drinking everywhere with no restrictions. If we get to a point where the ban is lifted I think the sensible thing would be to look at the opinions of the majority in relation to various options along that spectrum. Making it a pure Yes/No would probably miss out things which majorities would like or not be against.

Realistically there’d be a long path before anything happened. It may even be that the club wouldn’t want it at all beyond being allowed to open the blinds in the lounges, Dugout bar and boxes.

Back in 22 I went to a match at Bayern’s stadium where you can buy litre plastic Steins of beer. The really striking thing was how huge the toilet areas were and how many sinks with soap and hot water for Hullbee’s German cousins there were. We may simply just not have the toilet capacity to allow for more drinking!

 

[JCMcBee]

Divisions or just having different offers to different fans? I don’t think anyone would feel there was some nefarious plot if drinking in the family area remained banned.

Having it allowed only in East would probably see a lot of STs moving there.

My guess would be any trial in GA would start with the Dugout.

.... stressful times coming up in the dugout.

 

[Jay Bee]

Do the people saying "can't you go 45 minutes without a drink" also support the return of pubs being closed between 3pm and 7pm? I mean can't you go a few hours without a beer.... do something else with your sunny afternoon?
it's not about needing to have a drink at all times, it's about being an adult and being allowed the ability to choose to have one at the game, outside of a crazily busy 15 minute window at half time, without breaking the law.

 

[FJBee]

Yeah, let me smoke in the stand then. Only banning it for other people's comfort. So unfair

I mean, it’s pretty clear how alcohol and smoking impact those around you differently.

 

[UNCCTF]

When I went to my first Brentford game season before last, I bought a beer 15 minutes before kick and started walking toward my seat only to have 4 ushers descend on me like I was brandishing a gun. I actually had no idea about that rule.

I have season tickets to my local National Hockey League team, and in 3 years I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen an actual disturbance because a fan was boozed up. In my experience it's between fans of opposing teams, and the PL/EFL don't have that issue with sequestered visiting fans (another oddity to Americans, but I don't hate it). I don't know, I'm clearly in the minority here based on the results of the poll in this thread, but having a pint or two in the seats during a match doesn't feel like a big deal to me.

 

[jlove]

I hear it'll be permitted in the new upper tier of the North Stand...

 

[Banana]

Does this also apply to coach travel too? Now there's something we can all get behind.

 

[fencer/bee]

I hear it'll be permitted in the new upper tier of the North Stand...

Correct , to anyone over the age of FORTY

 

[ITK]

How about sealed plastic containers with a straw. No need to keep getting up and down,take as many to your seat as you like. Also not much chance of spillage, if it does it would probably be on yourself. There new business opportunity for someone and more money to the club. What’s not to like?

 

[AB]

The FSA position cautiously supporting the proposal is worth a read

View: https://x.com/wearethefsa/status/2103094680380457339?s=46&t=9UmVFiBy0DOR8SIM55BOUA

 

[aslan]

Do the people saying "can't you go 45 minutes without a drink" also support the return of pubs being closed between 3pm and 7pm? I mean can't you go a few hours without a beer.... do something else with your sunny afternoon?
it's not about needing to have a drink at all times, it's about being an adult and being allowed the ability to choose to have one at the game, outside of a crazily busy 15 minute window at half time, without breaking the law.

No, because they're clearly very different things. I can simply not go to a pub to avoid those things.

 

[ITK]

How about sealed plastic containers with a straw. No need to keep getting up and down,take as many to your seat as you like. Also not much chance of spillage, if it does it would probably be on yourself. There new business opportunity for someone and more money to the club. What’s not to like?

Even better a party seven with decent beer in it. There problem solved

 

[Jay Bee]

No, because they're clearly very different things. I can simply not go to a pub to avoid those things.

OK. Well I suggest you could make your case in a different way to "I prefer to avoid this, and also I expect the law to enforce my preference over when other people can/cannot do things"

If you think football is more civilised without it or you're worried about waterfalls of beer, that is fair. But I think it's a bit nannyish to argue that everyone is better off with a break from the drink. That's all.

 

[Sultan]

Even better a party seven with decent beer in it. There problem solved

You do realise a Party Seven was by Watneys don't you.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Do the people saying "can't you go 45 minutes without a drink" also support the return of pubs being closed between 3pm and 7pm? I mean can't you go a few hours without a beer.... do something else with your sunny afternoon?
it's not about needing to have a drink at all times, it's about being an adult and being allowed the ability to choose to have one at the game, outside of a crazily busy 15 minute window at half time, without breaking the law.

Yeah the whole cant people wait thing is also a bit tiresome.

Would rather buy a drink and not have to shove it down my neck in 10mins probably having a worse affect on me then sitting there sipping it.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

And as for the throwing beer around etc.................... How many of us have ever actually experienced that?

Its all online click bait and people knowing they are stood at box park etc with a camera pointed at them......................... Lets throw my beer because its the done thing here.

I bet the majority wouldn't want to be turfing £8 worth of beer for the sake of it. A few idiots would but i bet it wouldnt be as bad as half of us are making it out to be.

Theres the report function, no reason why it couldnt be adopted here especially with the quality of CCTV we have.

Seems to work fine on the continent.

btw im not fussed either way................. Would just be nice to be treated as an adult and not tarnished as some 1970s-80s hooligan whos going to rip up N126 because ive got a beer in my hand.

 

[mhead bee]

Crowds have changed beyond recognition since the ban was imposed.

I predict that after the novelty wears off, people will be pretty chilled about it. But I could be very wrong, so that's why I'm in favour of a pilot scheme.

Its not the behaviour that bothers me, I must admit I hadn't even considered that when I read this thread, for me it is another step into the Americanisation of our game. Making it about as many trips to the bar/snack kiosk as possible, introducing quarters with 15 mins breaks will be next. Mixed fans having a day out and the sport is only a side event. You can see what happened during the world cup, people wearing Messi Argentina shirts rather than their own countries, brainwashed fan boys who don't get the passion and commitment of being born into being a fan, but have plenty of disposable income.

 

[shepperton bee]

I may be persuaded if it was on the basis that the bar shuts at kick off and after HT with a limit of one pint to be brought into the stadium.
One of my mates is a Quins fan a group of us Bees to go to one game a season (going tomorrow) but it’s so infuriating as you are endlessly up down in your seat as Tarquin nips off to buy six beers just after kick off , then a second round with lots of shouting across you as to who wants what , then they go for a pee individually then it’s half time . Tarquin and his mates disappear and emerge 10 minutes into the second half and it’s rinse and repeat .
Football demographic is very different as it seems like half the crowd don’t pay much attention to the game but anything that detracts from the atmosphere and draws people away from supporting the team and queuing up for beers during the game is a bad thing .

 

[Ghost]

Yeah the whole cant people wait thing is also a bit tiresome.

Would rather buy a drink and not have to shove it down my neck in 10mins probably having a worse affect on me then sitting there sipping it.

But you are putting your needs above the large majority of people who are there for what is the primary function of the event, watching football. You're not going to die of thirst and you can wait until you can purchase a drink in an establishment that the primary function is just that. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[Ghost]

Its not the behaviour that bothers me, I must admit I hadn't even considered that when I read this thread, for me it is another step into the Americanisation of our game. Making it about as many trips to the bar/snack kiosk as possible, introducing quarters with 15 mins breaks will be next. Mixed fans having a day out and the sport is only a side event. You can see what happened during the world cup, people wearing Messi Argentina shirts rather than their own countries, brainwashed fan boys who don't get the passion and commitment of being born into being a fan, but have plenty of disposable income.

Exactly why the cinema parallel stands up well. The sideshow becomes the show.

 

[aslan]

OK. Well I suggest you could make your case in a different way to "I prefer to avoid this, and also I expect the law to enforce my preference over when other people can/cannot do things"

If you think football is more civilised without it or you're worried about waterfalls of beer, that is fair. But I think it's a bit nannyish to argue that everyone is better off with a break from the drink. That's all.

Of the many points I've put, "everyone is better off with a break" is not one I have put.

 

[Ghost]

I may be persuaded if it was on the basis that the bar shuts at kick off and after HT with a limit of one pint to be brought into the stadium.
One of my mates is a Quins fan a group of us Bees to go to one game a season (going tomorrow) but it’s so infuriating as you are endlessly up down in your seat as Tarquin nips off to buy six beers just after kick off , then a second round with lots of shouting across you as to who wants what , then they go for a pee individually then it’s half time . Tarquin and his mates disappear and emerge 10 minutes into the second half and it’s rinse and repeat .
Football demographic is very different as it seems like half the crowd don’t pay much attention to the game but anything that detracts from the atmosphere and draws people away from supporting the team and queuing up for beers during the game is a bad thing .

Plus what is the quality of the beer? Why pay through the nose for watered down piss, when you can wait a little bit longer.

 

[hairman]

Bring back the Brook Road beer cage.