Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants stadium drinking ban scrapped
Andy Burnham
Steve RotheramPrime Minister Andy Burnham has branded the ban on football supporters drinking alcohol within stadium stands as outdated and discriminatory, calling for the restriction to be scrapped.
Speaking to reporters, the Prime Minister argued that it is unfair to target football followers when people attending other sports can enjoy a drink in their seats.
A rule from a different era
The restriction prevents spectators from drinking in sight of the pitch across the top five tiers of the English men’s game. It was introduced during the 1980s amid peak concerns surrounding football hooliganism.
As a regular match-going supporter of his club, Mr Burnham believes the policy belongs to the past. He suggested that authorities could implement alterations through a trial period.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Burnham said:
I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way and I made that point. I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different. And I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination. There are different ways it could be done, perhaps on a trial basis.
The Prime Minister previously questioned the rules before entering No 10 in July. He noticed rugby league fans enjoying pints at a match alongside Liverpool metro mayor Steve Rotheram.
Supporters welcome the review
The Football Supporters’ Association has strongly backed the remarks made by the Prime Minister. Supporters’ leaders pointed out that women’s football matches have already hosted successful trials allowing alcohol in stands.
FSA chairman Tom Greatrex told reporters:
The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match — especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.
Mr Greatrex added that numerous clubs support a review of the legislation. The English Football League has also previously backed the idea of running a trial.
Police raise safety concerns
However, police chiefs have urged caution regarding any hasty alterations to the current rules. A UK Football Policing Unit spokesperson warned that removing restrictions without proper consultation would be dangerous.
The spokesperson told reporters:
Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour. It would be irresponsible to fuel this by allowing greater alcohol consumption during games.
Law enforcement officials also emphasised that current legislation was shaped following important safety reviews after historical tragedies. Police representatives have requested a meeting with Mr Burnham to discuss potential safety challenges.
Separately, Sportbible reported that the United Arab Emirates has warned Mr Burnham that it will withdraw billions of pounds of investment from the UK if Manchester City’s guilty verdict on 114 Premier League charges is upheld. The club, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, appealed against the independent commission’s decision on 1 October 2026.
Mr Burnham faced criticism from Conservative politicians after he expressed concern over potentially losing the club’s owners. Speaking to BBC News, the Prime Minister said:
“Well, I would be really concerned to lose them. They’ve been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester. Obviously, the building of Manchester City into the global force that it is.”
Downing Street later distanced itself from the comments, with a spokesperson stating that no team is “above the rules” and that any established wrongdoing should face “appropriate consequences.”
Updated 3 October 2026 with new details.
