Town chief executive Simon Clegg is calling on the Football Association and Football League to back a change in the law which would allow football fans to drink alcohol while watching games in the manner of supporters of other sports. Currently, fans are prevented from drinking "within sight of the pitch” 15 minutes from kick-off under a law passed in 1985 at the height of football's hooliganism problems.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Clegg wrote to David Bernstein, the chairman of the FA, and his Football League equivalent Greg Clarke with the letter subsequently having been circulated at a Football League meeting.

In part the letter reads: “We feel that the time is right to review the current restrictions on alcohol in football stadia and consider whether such decisions could now not be delegated down to the local safety advisory group.

“The restrictions within the 1985 Act are not applied to any other games or events, including both rugby codes, cricket, the recent Olympics Games in London and music events, even when they are performed in stadia which are predominantly used for football.

“Based on this evidence we see football as being unfairly targeted and forced to remain in a position of subjugation that is no longer warranted.”

Photo: Action Images

itfchorry added 09:31 - Jan 16 Is there no end to this man's talents ?
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michaeldownunder added 09:35 - Jan 16 Over here in Brisbane you can drink while watching the game, it's low strength beer so you don't often see anyone pissed. I agree with people getting up and down during the game is a pain but as most around me buy 4 at a time they only get up around half time same as they do in England,to have a piss, then get 4 more for the 2nd half. The problem is as ever one w*anker spoils it for the rest of the people by getting drunk before/ after the game and making trouble

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theobald1985 added 09:40 - Jan 16 with the FFP rules coming out i think a lot of clubs might back this simply based on revenue genaration. If people wana go drunk to football they will drink 5 or 6 pints before the game an apint at half time anyway and how much going back for drinks are people really going to do during a match? i dont think there is a problem with this and people are hardly going to be drunk in the family enclosure are they

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Doctor_Albran added 10:33 - Jan 16 European clubs allow beer to be sold, however, it is all alcohol free - Have been to see Barca, Madrid and Cologne and all 3 sold beer in the stadium but not a drop of alcohol in sight - why doesn't the club try that? or is it the alcohol and not the beer that is important...?
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SE4Blue added 10:44 - Jan 16 I like the sound of this but can we get some beer in that doesn't taste like p!ss. Adnams is fine but the lager is simply disgusting.
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spanish_archer added 11:43 - Jan 16 It sounds like a good idea, but wait till one moron decides to throw his pint at a player...
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buryblue77 added 11:48 - Jan 16 Doctor albran, have you ever tried alcohol free beer?
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goat_man added 12:03 - Jan 16 Very bad idea. The majority of people these days and particularly football fans cannot be trusted with alcohol...im not suggesting we would be the worst offenders, but do you really want Leeds/Millwall fans being able to drink en masse in a stadium? In addition to this why an earth would anyone in their right mind want to pay for a cup full of bubbles that just sends you to the loo, when you can pay half the price on a cup of fruit juice and actually enjoy it?

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greenkingtone added 12:11 - Jan 16 No way is this a bright idea. Simon Clegg please forget this.
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JWM added 12:50 - Jan 16 Great idea Cleggy! We need the extra revenue this will generate and it might actually get the SBR to start SINGING and creating atmosphere during home games. I'm sure Johnny Cobbold will be smiling down on us in approval.
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simonsays added 13:04 - Jan 16 Clegg out. Just show's how clueless he is. Am sure the police will not want this either.
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brockleyblueboy added 13:10 - Jan 16 First of all, Dissboy, calling twickenham "twickers" proves youre not a football fan but a rugby fan and probably wearing ridiculous red trousers and go for long walks with a black labrador. How many pints do people think fans can drink in the 45 minute half!fans are there to watch the match and if they have a pint in their hand all the better. It will help revenue, stop fans rushing down pints and getting loaded before they get in and it might even give people a bit of dutch coursge to, dare I say it, sing and support the club more vocally rather than bitching and moaning on here. Take the pickles out your bums and support this move. If it gets passed could clegg be the first non player to win fans player of the season?

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Doctor_Albran added 13:18 - Jan 16 Buryblue - I have and whilst the crap we get sold over here is awful - Kaliber anybody...? In Germany they have actually made some passable versions - Pretty sure Erdinger does a version which is quite palatable (I think you might even be able to get it at Sainsburys!). SE4Blue - the lager is rubbish as it'll have been chosen because it has the best mark-up - they know most people will drink whatever's available, so why eat into your margin by serving a better beer which will make less money?

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StochesStotasBlewe added 13:35 - Jan 16 Would be happy to trial this proposal, but no to drinking in the family enclosures. Personally, i have a pint beforehand & would probably not want to drink during the match, however, our club on the whole have fairly well behaved fans so it could be worth a go & monitor it for a while. Another point, regarding away supporters, generally, the club knows the more troublesome followers, so don,t serve alchohol when those particular clubs followings are in Town.

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Taricco_Fan added 14:43 - Jan 16 Football is 'unfairly targeted' because of it's history of supporter violence and hooliganism. In an ideal world I would be all in favour of alcohol on the terraces but I'm not sure we have a responsible, mature attitude to alcohol in this country. It would be a case of the few idiots spoiling the privilege for the rest of us unfortunately. This would prove to a regressive move in my opinion.

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JWM added 14:52 - Jan 16 I think some on here need to get a grip and hang fire with the moral outrage! Alcohol is available inside the ground already so what difference will it honestly make if we allow supporters to have a drink while watching the game? The Town Centre pubs serve alcohol at the same time as showing televised games and in the pubs there can be a whole mix of different supporters! What's the difference? I think we should all be treated like adults and be trusted rather than just ban things because we don't like them! This is a very good idea from Cleggy because he recognises that society in general has moved on from the 1970s and 80s into a more enlightened era.

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blues1 added 15:32 - Jan 16 my god there are some idiotic comments on here arent there. and guess whos at the front of the queue? yes, itfc1981 and bluey123. itfc1981, he is workin in the football side of things. in case you havent noticed, weve signed 4 players already in jan, but guess he wasnt involved in that? of course he was. and bluey123, why is this anidiotic idea? they drink in the stands in other countries, so why not here. as he said, of course it would have to be monitored, but oin principle its a perfectly good idea. and elizabeth, youre prob right, there may well be some whod abuse it. but then the same can be said for most things in life. so why not stop anyone doing anything just in case 1 or 2 decide to abuse that.

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blues1 added 15:40 - Jan 16 goat man. totally agree with you about for example, leeds v millwall, and others but thats why, if youd read the story properly, clegg said that this would have to be agreed between clubs police and appropriate authorities based on the likelihood of there being problems at any particular match. so those kind of games would still have the ban on drinking in the stands in place. and as others on here have already sais you can drink in the ground anyway so what real difference does it make where in the ground you are? just a pointless ban anyway as anyone who wants to get drunk rather than just enjoy a drink while watching the game can easily get pissed before the match starts.

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itfchorry added 15:52 - Jan 16 keep up the good work itfc1981 - Always admire your work - blues1 - would be best if you read your threads before you post.
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davidsc1971 added 16:04 - Jan 16 Not sure where I stand on this: 1. If it's not broke don't fix it. Drink inside where it's warmer 2. Given the average standard of football at Portman Road has been fair to middling at best over the past 10 years, perhaps a drink or two may make it more enjoyable an experience? That aside, this is down to fan behaviour and safety, not unfairly targeting football as a sport. If fans across the country improve their reputation then this will be considered. I can't see this going through at present, too much risk

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blues1 added 17:13 - Jan 16 oh, sorry itfc horry, i made 1 mistake with my spelling. a heinous crime. davidsc1971. agree with your 1st 2 points but the fact is, fan behaviour has vastly improved in general. but again as clegg said this would have to be considered on the merits of the fans of whichever clubs involved in the match on any given date. so for instance, im sure if leeds or millwall werw at portman road then there would be no drinking in the stands. tho even then as ive said before, what difference that makes when you can drink under the stand anyway, is debatable.

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TJS added 17:27 - Jan 16 This will do nothing to improve the atmosphere at football grounds. All you'll end up with is a constant stream of people going up and down the aisles with beer and food like they do in American stadiums with the action on the pitch almost becoming incidental. If you are seated near the end of a row you will spend most of the match making room for people coming past. If you can't go for more than 45 minutes without drinking maybe you should just stay dpwn the pub.

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Dissboyitfc added 18:26 - Jan 16 tjs....great post , my point exactly. and brockleyblue if you read my past posts, you will realize just how big a town fan i am, pathetic assumptions, my first and last game of rugby. Those who think i am wrong should try an isle seat at a major sporting event that allows drinking.....Coyb
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petermorris added 20:34 - Jan 16 Cleggs best idea since the incredible Cuppa-And-A-Tiny-Twix deal. TJS and Dissboy - what's with all this business with Twickers & toing and froing to the loo? Footy fans are indeed different; back in The Day we simply pee'd up the back wall of the North Stand - no inconvenience caused to anyone.
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