Aberdeen to trial alcohol sales at Scottish Premiership match

Aberdeen Soccer Membership has been granted a licence to promote alcohol to followers inside Pittodrie at a Scottish Premiership match subsequent month.

Residence supporters will be capable of purchase alcoholic drinks within the decrease concourse of the Richard Donald Stand earlier than kick-off within the recreation towards Kilmarnock on 14 December.

Followers won’t be able to drink nearby of the pitch and gross sales shall be stopped earlier than the match will get beneath means. It’s a part of a pilot scheme to see how alcohol gross sales could possibly be safely integrated into the matchday expertise.

Alcohol has been prohibited in Scottish soccer stadiums since 1981.

Aberdeen are the primary membership from Scotland’s high division to participate within the scheme.

Championship facet St Johnstone will even trial alcohol gross sales throughout matches towards Queen’s Park on Saturday and Greenock Morton on 20 December.

In a press release, Aberdeen mentioned the initiative had been accredited by Aberdeen Metropolis Council.

The membership mentioned the pilot was designed to “collect perception into how a rigorously managed strategy to alcohol gross sales can assist a constructive and secure matchday expertise for supporters”.

They added: “Gross sales shall be managed in full accordance with licensing legal guidelines, with applicable safety and stewarding in place.

“Supporters are reminded that alcohol could solely be consumed inside clearly designated areas and never in sight of the pitch, and all gross sales will happen in clearly outlined, monitored areas of the stadium. Matchday operations, stewarding and security planning will stay per our regular excessive requirements.”

At McDiarmid Park, residence and away followers will be capable of buy alcohol from a pop-up gazebo on the rear of the East Stand previous to the 15:00 kick offs.

Gross sales shall be open between 14:00 and 14:45 and through half time of the matches.

As at Aberdeen, drinks can’t be consumed inside view of the pitch.

It follows similar trials during Premier Sports Cup matches at Arbroath, Ayr United, Queen of the South and Stirling Albion previous to the beginning of the league season.

Alcohol has been prohibited in Scottish soccer stadiums for 44 years.

The ban was initially imposed following a riot through the 1980 Scottish Cup ultimate between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden.

The ban doesn’t cowl hospitality sections inside stadia.

The Scottish authorities and Police Scotland beforehand mentioned they might think about lifting the alcohol ban in March.

Followers have beforehand referred to as for soccer supporters to be beneath the identical guidelines as their rugby equivalents, who’re in a position to drink throughout matches.

A Scottish authorities spokesperson mentioned: “Our place on alcohol gross sales at Scottish soccer grounds has not modified.

“It’s for native licencing authorities and Police Scotland to fulfill themselves that the pilot tasks are permissible inside the present legislative framework when granting licences.”