Burnham wants ‘discriminatory’ alcohol ban in stands at football matches to be overturned

Andy Burnham has called for the long-standing ban on consuming alcohol in stadium stands during football matches to be overturned. Describing the restriction as discriminatory and outdated, Burnham argued that it unfairly targets football supporters while attendees of other sports are permitted to drink in view of the pitch.

The current law dates back to the 1980s and applies across the top five tiers of English men's football. While the Football Supporters' Association supported the proposal, police chiefs cautioned that lifting the ban without thorough consultation would be incredibly rash.