Scottish football: Alcohol to be sold at top-flight match for first time since 1981

Alcohol will be sold to general ticket holders at a Scottish top flight football match for the first time in 44 years next month.

It comes after Aberdeen were granted a licence to sell alcohol to supporters inside Pittodrie Stadium at their Scottish Premiership game against Kilmarnock on December 14.

Home fans will be able to buy alcoholic beverages in the lower concourse of the Richard Donald Stand but drinks cannot be consumed within sight of the pitch and sales will be stopped before the match starts.

Aberdeen have been granted a licence to sell alcohol to supporters at their Scottish Premiership home match against Kilmarnock next month. | SNS Group

The move, which has been approved by Aberdeen City Council, is part of a pilot scheme to see how alcohol sales can be safely incorporated into the matchday experience.

A club statement read: "The aim of the initiative is to gather insight into how a carefully managed approach to alcohol sales can support a positive and safe matchday experience for supporters, as part of wider work taking place across Scottish football to improve fan engagement and enhance the overall stadium environment.

"Sales will be managed in full accordance with licensing laws, with appropriate security and stewarding in place.

"Supporters are reminded that alcohol may only be consumed within clearly designated areas and not in sight of the pitch, and all sales will take place in clearly defined, monitored areas of the stadium."

Aberdeen have been granted a licence to sell alcohol at Pittodrie Stadium next month. | SNS Group

St Johnstone have also been granted a licence by Perth and Kinross Council to sell alcohol at their Scottish Championship matches against Queen's Park this Saturday and Greenock Morton on December 20. Drinks will be served to home and away supporters between 2pm and 2.45pm and at half-time.

Similar trials took place during Premier Sports Cup matches at Arbroath, Ayr United, Queen of the South and Stirling Albion earlier this season.

Alcohol has been prohibited in Scottish football stadiums since 1981, except for within hospitality areas. The ban was initially imposed following a riot during the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden.

A report in March claimed that the Scottish government and Police Scotland were giving consideration to relaxing the ban. SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has previously called for the restrictions to be lifted in line with England and the rest of Europe.