The notorious booze ban is set to be lifted at Scotland’s national stadium meaning supporters heading to upcoming games with be able to purchase pints.
Tartan Army fans will be allowed to enjoy a pint while attending matches at Hampden Park going forward. A booze ban is normally in place in all Scottish football grounds but successful trial alcohol sales mean the notorious ban will be lifted at the national stadium.
Supporters will be able to toast their side when the trial continues at fixtures against Switzerland on September 29 and Slovenia next month. Booze has been banned at Scottish grounds – with the exception of hospitality suites – since the infamous 1980 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers.
Hampden Park was initially allowed to serve alcohol, from pop-up hospitality bars in the stadium concourse, during games against Japan and Curaçao earlier this year.
The board then granted four occasional licences to cover two areas of the stadium concourse before the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Addressing the city’s licensing board on Friday, licensing lawyer Stephen McGowan said: “You granted essentially equivalent licences for the friendlies. I’m very pleased to say they both went well, there were no adverse incidents. I think it was a good result for everyone involved with Hampden.”
“I suppose these are the next step in this wider project… to gather data on the safe use of hospitality provision in concourse areas.”
McGowan said the project is taking an “incremental” and “prudent” approach and “public safety has been at the heart of that process”, adding: “You’ve now got the comfort of knowing that two matches have been licensed without any difficulties.”
The bars will open at 5.45pm and last orders will be at 7pm ahead of the 7.45pm kick off. The hospitality areas will be in the level five east bronze and level five west bronze concourses. Only fans with tickets for seats in these areas are able to access the bars.
The move could mean Tartan Army fans will be able to toast new manager Sébastien Pocognoli’s men if Scotland qualify for the European Championships in 2028, which will be hosted across the UK and Ireland.
Supporters have become increasingly vocal over the years in their belief the 45-year-old ban is no longer fit for purpose given the huge changes across the sport in that time.
A limited trial allowing fans to drink at carefully pre-selected matches in the SPFL got underway last year with support from Police Scotland and the SNP Government.
Aberdeen fans had the option of an alcohol beverage before kick-off at their home game against Kilmarnock on December 14. The Dons were the first top flight club to take part in the scheme.
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