Historic Move for Women’s Football: Alcohol in the Stands
“If you can take a coke out there, why not a beer?” asked Bristol City season-ticket holder Andy Payne, as he enjoyed the match against London City Lionesses at Ashton Gate on Sunday. This occasion marked a significant milestone as Bristol City, alongside Southampton, became the first clubs to trial the sale of alcohol in the stands during a Women’s Championship game.
Currently, consuming alcohol in view of the pitch is prohibited in the top five men’s leagues in England, a rule established by the Sporting Events Act of 1985. However, this legislation does not cover women’s football. Should this trial prove successful, it could potentially extend to the top two tiers of women’s football in England. The pilot is also being conducted at Birmingham and Newcastle, encompassing the remaining home league matches of the season, with some derby games excluded.
Payne expressed his thoughts on the initiative: “In women’s football, there isn’t the same tribalism as seen in the men’s game, making it easier to manage situations like this. The crowds are smaller too, and I don’t think anyone is attending just to get drunk; we’re here to enjoy the football. This is a positive step forward. If it works well in rugby, there’s no reason it couldn’t succeed in women’s football as well.”
Romaney Pinnock, head of women’s football at Bristol City, supports the initiative. “We want our fans to have the option to enjoy what they want in a safe and healthy environment. We’re familiar with this at Bristol Bears, where fans can choose to drink or not.
“The focus is on enhancing the match-day experience for our supporters. While we might not see a significant increase in alcohol revenue, the key takeaway is that fans appreciate having the option to enjoy a drink. It’s really about offering choice.”
Among the 2,643 fans at Ashton Gate, the response to the pilot was largely positive. One supporter noted that some season-ticket holders had previously missed early second-half goals because they were busy finishing their drinks during half-time. This new initiative could alleviate that issue.
However, not all fans are enthusiastic. Carol, a London City Lionesses season-ticket holder, commented, “It’s unnecessary. We don’t need people with drinks under their seats, which could easily get spilled.” Another fan, Sue Kitchen, echoed her concerns: “People tend to get up and move around. We’ve seen similar issues at cricket matches. This seems a bit forced, and I’m uncertain about it.”
Despite mixed opinions, the match atmosphere remained vibrant as London City Lionesses secured a 1-0 victory, surpassing Bristol City in the league standings. The excitement was palpable as the home team pushed for an equalizer, accompanied by a chorus of young fans cheering, “Come on you Reds!” and “Bristol City are the best team ever.”
The introduction of alcohol in the stands did not detract from the match-day experience, with no reported incidents of concern. Pinnock expressed confidence regarding fan behavior, stating, “I believe our fans are different. They resemble the Bristol Bears supporters—predominantly family-oriented. If we haven’t witnessed significant behavioral changes within their crowds, I doubt we’ll encounter major shifts in women’s football games.”
“While we can’t predict the future, this is a trial. We have five games to analyze the outcomes, and if any concerning patterns emerge, we can address them as they arise. Since it’s a pilot, we aren’t committing to anything long-term; we’re simply exploring a new possibility.”
With this loss, Bristol City now sits in third place, trailing leaders Birmingham City by three points, with 11 matches remaining in the season.
As the season nears its conclusion, only one club will secure promotion to the Women’s Super League, and fans from both teams are eagerly hoping for a celebratory toast to victory.
