Drenched At Dean Court? Alcohol Debate Continues Amongst Bournemouth Fans

There are few things more likely to divide football supporters than VAR, refereeing decisions and the commercialisation of football - but now there is another contender: should Bournemouth fans be allowed to drink alcohol while watching the Cherries?

Prime Minister and lifelong Everton supporter Andy Burnham has reignited the debate after backing a potential return of alcohol consumption within sight of the pitch at football matches.

Burnham believes the decades-old restrictions are outdated, arguing that football supporters are treated differently from fans at rugby, cricket and other sporting events. Speaking during a trip to New York, he described the 1985 legislation as belonging to an era when football was a very different place and suggested a trial could be considered.

Naturally, that raises an interesting question for Bournemouth supporters. Could we one day see a pint being enjoyed from the stands at the Vitality Stadium?

Or, given some of the scenes we've witnessed around Boxpark, would we simply be handing 11,000 people permission to recreate Oktoberfest every other weekend?

The current restrictions date back to the Sporting Events Act of 1985, where legislation made it illegal to consume alcohol within sight of the pitch at designated football matches in the top five tiers of the men's game in England and Wales.

Four decades later though, and football looks rather different, with all-seater stadiums, CCTV, safe standing, improved stewarding and vastly different matchday demographics - all transforming the experience of attending a game.

Yet the rules remain - you can have a pint on the concourse before kick-off, you can have another at half-time, and at many grounds - you can have one afterwards.

You can wander into Boxpark, watch the match on a giant screen and find yourself surrounded by supporters celebrating a goal with beer flying absolutely everywhere, but apparently the moment you walk through into the stadium bowl, that same pint suddenly becomes a public-order concern.

There is certainly an argument that football supporters should be trusted to behave in much the same way as spectators at other sports.

Bournemouth fans, in particular, would point towards their increasingly family-friendly matchday experience as evidence that the modern football crowd bears little resemblance to the stereotype of the 1980's.

Dean Court is also one of the Premier League's smallest stadiums, which makes the idea rather more complicated - but possibly more alluring, with fewer beer queues at half time being one of the key considerations.

For many, the key factor is what happens when Bournemouth score - at present, the biggest danger when the Cherries find the net is probably somebody hugging a stranger, losing their balance or accidentally launching their phone three rows forward.

Add a pint to the equation and suddenly the poor grandma watching from Row H might need a change of clothes.

And what about the constant pain of having to getting up and down from your seat to let Russell from Poole out for a pee every five minutes?

For clubs, the proposal is not simply about giving supporters something to drink necessarily. Firstly, it could be a driver of an improved atmosphere, but secondly - there is money involved.

Longer bar opening times and the ability to sell alcohol inside the stadium bowl could provide clubs with another valuable matchday revenue stream. For Premier League clubs like Bournemouth, who are operating in an increasingly competitive financial environment, every additional pound matters - and at £7.50 a pint at the moment, these pounds certainly add up.

So just like the ill-fated pink blob and other commercial activations that make supporters sceptical, there is the possibility that the idea will not necessarily just be put in place "for the fans" - but more, for the club's themselves.

There is a serious side to the argument though.

Police organisations remain concerned about the potential relationship between alcohol and football disorder, pointing out that football continues to experience incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour that are less common at some other major sports. Football is tribal, it's combative, it provokes anger and frustration - add beer into the mix, and it could ferment into something more...

And some supporters will point to the last event at Dean Court which allowed alcohol in the stands, as Chris Billam-Smith overcame Lawrence Okolie to win the WBO cruiserweight title - and there were widespread incidents in every stand.

Of course, boxing is an entirely different sport, and when you get supporters of Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth within earshot of each other - the outcome will never be good, however that said, it does underline a legitimate concerns from families.

For some supporters, the appeal of Dean Court is precisely that it is an intimate, relatively family-friendly environment. The prospect of significantly more alcohol being consumed in the stands will not appeal to everyone.

And there is a difference between having a quiet pint while watching Bournemouth play and turning the North Stand into a mobile beer festival - the challenge would be finding the balance between the two.

Burnham has not suggested simply ripping up the legislation overnight and a controlled trial appears to be the more likely route, allowing clubs, police and supporters to assess the impact.

Bournemouth would certainly make for an interesting case study - a compact stadium, a passionate but generally family-oriented fanbase and a supporter culture that has evolved considerably over the past decade.

There would be logistical questions to answer, particularly with the ongoing stadium redevelopment, but a carefully controlled experiment could provide useful evidence. Either way, cup-holders, would surely be a necessity right?

For now, however, the Cherries faithful will have to continue enjoying their pre-match pint outside the ground, heading through the turnstiles and watching the action with nothing stronger than hope, optimism and the occasional questionable refereeing decision in their hands.

The debate, though, is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

What are your opinions? Vote in our latest poll here...

Not for me either, plenty of time to drink before the game and during half time. Can see issues of spilled drinks, fighting, people getting up multiple times during each half. Not for me thanks 🍒🍒🍒 Dazza (@somersetdazza)

Old Millennium Stadium, Wales allows booze in the stadium but it has seats with pint glass holders in the arm rest. It was excellent ..... but beer in the stand at #afcb wouldnt work ... 😎🍒 Paul James (@paul18280)

It’s true other sports get away with it. But I went to a Harlequins game last season and was amazed at the continual motion in the stands during the game. Out for a beer, back for a beer, then a pizza, then an ice cream. No thanks. #afcb Cherryfan - Steve Clarke (@CherryfanC)

All you lot moaning about being allowed to have a beer in the stadium. Maybe a beer or 2 will stop you sitting on your hands in the safe standing section #afcb Boscombe Tactico (@BoscombeTactico)