15 Feb 2015 22:30:48
hi ed and all. Sorry if this is old news but there are some different views being put forward regarding drinking inside grounds especially in an election year. Would just like to ask anyone who cares to express there opinion. Ed I know you don't drink but if you want to give your op I'd love to hear it. My op is we can't be trusted. And that's the harsh reality. But I'm open to listening to those who think we can be.
{Ed007's Note - Totally agree, it's a recipe for disaster. Why are Scottish people so preoccupied with alcohol?}
That's the problem I've got mate, I take a drink but I'm not demanding that I can't stop for 2 hours on matchday sadly a lot of people are demanding the rite to have that privelage. I sincerely fear the worst if it's allowed back.
{Ed007's Note - It's a Scottish thing, if something's not going the way you want try adding alcohol. Drinking at football games in Scotland is about two things, clubs wanting money and politicians wanting votes, it's as simple as that. If the football was better having a beer would be irrelevant and if you're not going to games because you can't have a beer you should maybe have a look at your lifestyle choices.
We all know not everyone has as sensible an approach as you, Gary.}
15 Feb 2015 23:17:44
The banning of alcohol to the "plebs" in the stadium serves no purpose and is unfair.
It is unfair because people in the best seats are allowed to drink.
It serves no purpose because people just drink before the game and arrive at stadium losses up anyway.
Just do away with the stupid ban and allow clubs to make some extra cash by selling beer.
Saw Jim Murphy on the news, think its just another blatant electioneering ploy, I like a drink, but its the minority who like a drink too much that go doolally inside the ground that the no drinking law is in place for, and all the scottish clubs have got those guys, so I think the no drink law should stay in place.
I am Irish and I can see no good reason why alcohol should be served at a football match. I enjoy a drink but I don't think a stand full of a crowd of people drinking is wise or safe.
{Ed007's Note - We also need to take into account that alcohol can affect asthma and even trigger asthma attacks, never forget we have the Asthmatic CSC to think about before anything else.}
A recipe for disaster sums it up in one phrase!
{Ed007's Note - Imagine if they were selling alcohol inside Hampden a fortnight ago, there would have been no control over it and that's where the problems start. The next argument would be the prices are too dear in the stadium so people will want to bring their own in.}
Rab - define plebs. I ask this because drunks and thugs come from in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life from the mega rich to the out of work. When alcohol gets a grip common sense goes right out the window. How many people have blamed their actions on too much drink and been full of 'genuine' contrition the next day. Do you really believe that society has progressed that much that we can be trusted? You heard the musical lilts being aired across the terraces at Hampden (from both sides though I have to say unbiasedly that mostly from the undead side of the ground). Some people think that there is a Prince from Holland sitting on a big white cuddy suggesting a fifty shades of grey relationship with the head of the Catholic Church. On the other side we have the troops mustering to launch Nelson's column into orbit and marching off into the sunset draped in an Irish tricolour (even though they were born in the Suffering General) to meet a friend called ira. Sorry, the booze ban was the best thing that happened and it must stay in place in my opinion.
Was taken to an American Football game and while I am not a great lover of it I have to say they are civilised about it and treat it for what it is, a competitive game. Barbecue and beer in the car park before the game (no line of stewards separating the rival fans). Drink up at the bar during the game and no 'us' and 'them' seating. We were mixed where I was. Lot of banter and joking but no one half blootered looking to fight to the death to defend his teams honour. Even on the receiving end of a thrashing there was no fighting. Every fan accepted it for what it was, discussed how they would have picked a better team and better plays. that's civilised supporters. Can you ever see that in Scotland? Especially Celtic Sevco.
Why is it not banned at Rugby?
For me its not the alcohol itself that's the issues here, its the blatant principle involved that working class people (which football is) need this but sports like rugby don't? You either stop it at all sports and concerts or none at all.
What next guys, austerity cuts are fine because folk on low incomes/benefits are lazy?
16 Feb 2015 08:13:23
I agree with you Rab. Why not let people buy a pint in the stadium instead of turning up for the game late after having one in a pub somewhere instead. I don't see any reason why there would be more trouble as long as it is policed properly.
Mrs e as you used rugby as an example I will do the same. At rugby fans of both sides can sit together with a bottle of beer. I want you to think for a second of the carnage that would cause at a football match. I know a lot of people can be trusted and I will put you into that bracket despite knowing nothing about you. However it only takes one and I think there are a lot more than one at just about every match I go to.
16 Feb 2015 12:18:31
Tinytim I think you're taking this way too far. What's the difference between having a few pints at the London Road tavern or wherever or having a few pints in the stadium before the game?
In england they serve alcohol in the stadiums and you don't hear of any trouble there. You're not allowed to take it up to your seat so unless you want to watch the match on the tv downstairs, people are going to have a drink at half time only.
I think it would be good way of bringing in some revenue for our clubs
I am not much of a drinker and don't really bother if I have a pint before the game or not . But saying that the revenue that bringing drink back to the grounds would be a great income for a lot of clubs how much would a person Drink during a game 2 or 3 pints at most not going to get drunk on that and as people on here say they have a drink out side the ground before the match so they have alcohol in there body's anyway so why not let them have a drink inside? if that is what they want to do better the clubs get the income than the bars outside as long as the clubs stay vigilant to the fans that look drunk/or to much already not to sell them
Mrs E. Rugby fans have proved themselves responsible, football fans, well, speaks for itself really. As I pointed out, so many sports can do it sensibly. I'm sure there is the odd one or two who get a bit ot. However, football tends to attract more than its fair share of knuckledraggers who just want to fight and cause trouble. HenriksT, I wish we could be trusted but we can't. We can't let go over religious bigatory after 325 years and we think that after 20 odd years we can act civilized with a drink! The facts are there to see. Yes people have a last minutes gulp in the bar but you don't get the violence we used to get and that is because of the ban. I am for keeping the ban because it was brought in for a reason and that reason has not gone away. In my opinion.
16 Feb 2015 15:29:40
Absolutey no way. The minority will ruin it, no doubt about that. And what about families? Can't we live without a pint for a few hours a day?
I hate when I am sitting down to watch the game, and people plough in past me to get to their seat 5 mins after game started . Then at random intervals people who have imbibed before the game disturb me going and coming from toilets . Ten minutes before half time, some hungry fans head out to try to beat queue for food . Fans coming back from food kiosk up to ten minutes after half time . Then they who have to travel far ( all 30 miles ) start leaving around 70 mins . If we add fans going out to buy alcohol and coming back there will be no point in a cantankerous old pensioner going to the match, getting annoyed every few minutes .
-Tiny Tim
"We can't let go over religious bigatory after 325 years and we think that after 20 odd years we can act civilized with a drink!"
Totally agree. The fact I still need to seriously consider what pub I can/will watch a Celtic game in, says it all.
In interest of full disclosure, I don't drink - I never saw need or had a taste for it - but if people can't go 90 minutes without a beer, it says more about them than our stadium laws.
16 Feb 2015 17:51:56
It's not about whether or not people can go 90 mins without a drink. We see programmes all the time about English football hooligans and British tourists in the likes of Spain. But according to some on here we can trust the english fans to have a drink but not the Scottish? What a load of nonsense. Many fans have a drink before and after the game and there's no trouble. Allowing fans to have a drink at a bar inside the stadium (like the champions club or kerrydale suite already do) and at half time will make next to no difference in terms of trouble. But might make going to the football on a wet Saturday afternoon slightly more enjoyable
Totally agree with Henriks Tongue.
This isn't about going 90 mins without alcohol - let's face it, if you can't then there are much bigger issues to be addressed and another subject.
This is about the reason it only happens at football and not any other sport or concerts where there are large crowds.
Excellent ED. let's never forget the asthmatic CSC!
HT and Mrs E, you are either being extremely hopeful, or extremely naive.
A simple thought experiment: if alcohol had been on sale at Hampden last week, who would have happily taken their children, or let their kids go to that match?
We (as a society) can't be trusted with stuff like this. Simple. It's been proven. It was proven every time there was an old firm game.
The fact people can get a beer before or after the game, doesn't mean it's inconsequential to have one during it. I can have laxative before I go to the swimming baths, and I can have one afterwards - but that doesn't mean that taking one during is a good idea.
All that all means is people can have one before hand, or after - and the small bit of time in between shouldn't matter all that much. Most cinemas don't allow alcohol in them. People manage to watch the film just fine.
You guys are all entitled to your opinions, I just think it's a naive, if hopeful, stance.
Chris O2 didn, t know you were irish, I'm a Co Meath man Athboy area.killy.
17 Feb 2015 00:21:10
Loads of people saying drink should not be reinstated because there would be carnage. However they seem to be overlooking the fact that there are already loads of drunk people in the stadium and this so called carnage dues nit ensue. Let me tell you my normal ritual for a big game when I lived in Edinburgh. Meet mates in pub have a few beers. Buy carry out for supporters bus and drink it all before reaching glasgow. Upon reaching glasgow go to pub near stadium for some more drinks. Buy another cargo for walking to stadium usually half bottle to recant into juice bottle.if you go to any pub near stadium or down Gallowgate you will see loads of wasted people who are going to game.
Killy I am from Newry and I believe I am a year younger than you old man.🐵🐵
Why would we not take them PP?
You are making the strange assumption that becasue alcohol is on sale, everyone will get drunk and behave like a thug - why would assume that?
Also the laxative you've taken before the game, you'll feel the affects during the game eeeeekkkk lol
Chris 02 I have a good friend from newry you may know him Frank Price (aka bobo) another I knew some time ago Martin Fearon.killy.
17 Feb 2015 08:37:26
The poeticpatient. You're not getting my point. And the one you made about laxatives? Wtf. We should stop selling sugary drinks because they are bad for you. If people can't go 90 mins without a drink of coke then there's something wrong! Like Rab says, plenty of fans have a few drinks before the match. There's no trouble any more. If they sold alcohol in hampden for the semi final I honestly don't believe there would have been more trouble than there was. The fans were segregated, and plenty of them will have had a drink already.
This is about people being allowed the choice to go for a beer with their mates at a football match. They're going to have one anyway so why not allow it in the concourse of the stadium?
-HT
I am getting your point. I just think it's ridiculously naive (and misinformed) as proven by this statement:
"There's no trouble anymore."
My point about the laxatives isn't difficult to comprehend. Just because you can do a and b, doesn't mean c is a good idea. This whole argument is based around the fact that you can do x and y before or after. Good. Then do that. It doesn't need to be inside. And if you are going to use it as a drum to bang your freedom of choice argument, then why don't you do the same for smoking? You can't smoke in a stadium. You can before game, after game. so why can't you enjoy a cigar with your mates at a football match?
If you want to be pedantic about sugary drinks, then to answer your question - no I don't think they should be. They are terrible. But that's a whole other issue - and if you want to start a thread on it, I'll comment on the merits of healthy eating and the like. What I will say is, in this context, I have never been threatened/attacked or chased through Ibrox/Govan etc by groups of aggressive people out of their heads on slush puppies.
{Ed007's Note - Great point about the smoking ban, I said the same thing to a friend last night.}
17 Feb 2015 14:33:27
I thought it was a bit strange when they first banned smoking in the stadium that you could smoke in the concourse but not in the stands. However the smoking ban prohibits smoking in all parts of the stadium so I don't really get where you're coming from with that one. I don't fancy sitting next to someone with their smoke blowing in my face! But perhaps you're the type of guy who gets annoyed with a lot of things, particularly if you don't do them yourself. Get down off your high horse. When was the last time there was trouble?
{Ed007's Note - I don't want to sit next to a guy reeking of drink and slevering a load of $hit in my ear. It's illegal to drink and smoke inside the stadium so if they are going to change the law regarding drink then why not smoking?
This is about people being allowed the choice to smoke at a football match. They're going to have one anyway so why not allow it in the concourse of the stadium?
HT-
The only thing that annoys me about this, is the hypocrisy of it all.
I'm not on any high horse. I gave my opinion and said you are entitled to yours. You are the one banging the drum. Who exactly are you trying to convince?
17 Feb 2015 15:57:56
I'm not trying to convince anyone. In simply saying that in england it's ok for them to sell alcohol but for some reason we can't be trusted. It doesn't make sense. If selling alcohol in the stadium, sensibly of course, will make the club some extra money and perhaps attract a few more punters along who would otherwise watch it in the pub, then where's the harm?
Ed I can't take that comment about smoking seriously because it's a completely different issue. Passive smoking has been proven to cause illness. Probably the reason smoking is banned in public places all around the world!
{Ed007's Note - You can walk down a street smoking, you can't walk down a street drinking, why not?}
17 Feb 2015 19:00:39
What's your point ed?
{Ed007's Note - You don't get much more of a public place than walking down the street yet it's alcohol that's banned why is that? If somebody is standing having a beer in the concourse of the stadium why can't smokers have a smoke in the concourse? As of now both drinking and smoking are illegal and against the stadium rules, if they are going to overturn one they should overturn both.
If a smoker is expected to sit without a smoke for the 90 mins even though they are addicted to tobacco, unless you're addicted to alcohol, you should be able to sit for 90 mins without a drink.
Not many people who go to games these days can remember drinking being allowed in stadiums, there's no reason to change that now, everyone's used to it and matchdays are now more family orientated, would you take a toddler with you to the game and go for a pint before the match or at HT, would you take a toddler into a pub?
As I said at the start, drinking at football games in Scotland is about two things, clubs wanting money and politicians wanting votes, it's as simple as that. There's a reason why Scottish people are regularly portrayed as drunken clowns on the TV, we as a race seem to have a need to involve alcohol in any activity with a blasé approach that alcohol will solve all our problems, now we're saying it could make Scottish football better ffs! It's ANY excuse for a drink.
One look at the Tartan Army should be enough for anyone to see the dangers of selling alcohol in stadiums.}
17 Feb 2015 19:08:21
************TEXT DELETED FOR STUPIDITY*******
{Ed007's Note - I edited your post, I've already met my daily quota of gilfnards I need to deal with.}
17 Feb 2015 19:57:54
The reason you shouldn't be allowed to smoke in the concourse is because of the dangers of passive smoking. If someone wants they're nicotine fix then take an E-cig. Again, it's not about people not being able to go 90 mins without a drink. There's a social aspect. You seem to have missed the point again. If you take a toddler to the game that sells alcohol, does that mean you have to have a drink? The option would be there for anyone wishing it but to say that it would cause problems is presumptuous at best. I'll go back to my point about English games. They have it and no problems. And are us Scots any worse than them?
{Ed007's Note - E-Cigs are banned within the stadium.}
17 Feb 2015 20:25:37
You sure about that Ed?
{Ed007's Note - I remember reading they were banned from stadiums in England so I'm assuming it's the same across the board. To be honest I'd be more worried about what's in them than what's in a normal cigarette but that's another subject altogether.
Look at people's reaction to this, is their priority to see a game of football or to keep their buzz going? There's people getting so het up about this they'd rather talk about it than football. Ask yourself why, and that's the reason it isn't a good idea, if alcohol is involved there is a lot of people who will abuse it, it's part of the Scottish psyche. You should see the looks you get off people when you tell them you don't drink, you might as well have told them you're Amish.
Not even at football if you go into a pub up here with folk and order a soft drink you get the looks and 'have a real drink', go into a pub in England and do the same and nobody bats an eyelid.
Alcohol and it's problems are ingrained in Scottish culture, we shouldn't be encouraging it. If this happens there will be carry-outs being sneaked in left right and centre, you'll see the half bottles of vodka and wine getting passed about in the concourse and before you know it there's an argument over a fag or someone saying the wrong thing, anyone who can't see that is kidding themselves, it happens up and down the country EVERY weekend.}
Sorry ed just been reading back on the question I asked yesterday and I noticed you we're criticising the tartan army. They are national treasure. Annoying locals for a beer breath kiss. Lifting up there kilts to show woman who didn't ask to see there manhood and urinating and vomiting on national monuments. Please don't have a go at our famous tartan army. They are the country's pride and joy. You may sense just the slightest hint of sarcasm there
{Ed007's Note - They're no better than Rangers supporters were and the zombies are - a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. Imaging the field day the media would have if that was CFC supporters descending on cities and behaving like that, and people want to let them drink inside Hampden!
You forgot to mention the obligatory picture of them kissing some local female's cheek, just to show how nice they really are under all their vulgar alcohol-fuelled behaviour.
I wonder how many people who want alcohol sold would like their wife/daughter to be working in a kiosk or stewarding in the LL stand the first time Sevco visit and they're all scooping there.
As Jimmy Reid said in 1971, 'There will be no hooliganism. There will be no vandalism. There will be no bevvying ... because the world is watching us.'
It's not just Celtic Park we're talking about, it's all stadia in the country, would having beer served inside Ibrox made the atmosphere surrounding the recent Hearts game any better?}
Do you know I sholud have went further because that was on my mind when I was posting. The national disgrace if it was a celtic fan acting in the way they do. I want scotland to win, but I find the tartan army to be major pain the arsenal. Slevering and slurring all over you. Rubbing a child's head as they shout in there faces all rite wee man. Well he was until you decided you wanted invade his space ya pest. And as you've clearly stated only scotland would celebrate that behaviour.
{Ed007's Note - Yet Scottish people complain when people describe them as a nation of drunks etc, some Scottish people love it and promote it as if it's something to be proud of. They're nothing but a crowd of drunken middle-class plastic fans acting like drunk middle-class to$$ers and making an embarrassment of themselves and Scotland wherever they go - a Scottish Bullingdon Club.
I'd bet my last £ that everyone would get a surprise if the released the figures regards domestic abuse/violence surrounding the Scotland v England game. We as a country should be promoting a healthier lifestyle, playing up to the gallery like drunken slobs. Look what happens when people like Le Guen and Ronny Deila come in, they're laughed at for promoting a healthy diet etc, it's a joke, Scots would rather look up to Rab C Nesbitt and brag about how much they drank on Saturday, even women are doing, on Facebook at 2 o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon you see the 'wine o'clock' posts appearing, years ago a woman would be mortified if folk knew they were drinking at that time, I had a mate's mam that used to drink vodka in a mug and kid on it was tea she was that embarrassed about her drinking.
Thinking back she should have just flung on a kilt and a CU Jimmy hat and my mate would have seen the funny side of her pi$$ing the couch and setting the kitchen on fire.}
@ED007 Brilliant big chap (rofl) Are you trying to win a Mr Popular award? don't hold back there just tell us how you feel. (y)
{Ed007's Note - Pfft, like I care what people think of me, come on! You should feel privileged & honoured that I put my thoughts and opinions on here for you to read. It's hard to keep your personal standards so high but you know if anyone can then it's going to be me.}
I know we are drifting off point but I do wonder wtf goes on In people's heads at times. It wasn't so long ago everywhere you went people were actually complaining that they are no longer allowed 2 pints before driving home from work because the amount they could drink and drive was lowered. Honsetly 2 pints and then drive a car and claim your ok to do so. And back to my original point about not drinking for 2 hours, you could stop the tartan army drinking for 2 weeks and still smell them, with there replica Spain 82 shirt and the same Unwashed kilt they've wore to the last 50 scotland games with no underwear. Well be coming down the road. We know we funking smell you.