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UK PM Andy Burnham open to trialling end to alcohol ban at football stadiums

The 56-year-old Everton fan called the men's football restriction a "discrimination" and suggested it was outdated.

Published: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 10:12 PM
UK PM Andy Burnham open to trialling end to alcohol ban at football stadiums
Key Things to Know
  • UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed openness to trialling the end of the stadium alcohol ban in men's football.
  • Burnham labeled the 1985 legislation banning pitch-side drinking as outdated and discriminatory toward football fans.
  • Similar alcohol restrictions do not exist for fans attending other UK sports, such as rugby.
The Story in 60 Seconds

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the current alcohol ban inside men's football stadiums is unfair and suggested he is open to ending it on a trial basis. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday, Burnham described the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 as outdated legislation that unfairly discriminates against football supporters compared to fans of other sports.

Burnham, an Everton season-ticket holder, highlighted that sports like rugby do not face identical stadium drinking bans. Similar trials allowing alcohol in view of the pitch have previously been explored in women's football across several clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

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