St Johnstone FC given permission to sell alcohol at half-time in hospitality

While it remains illegal to bring alcohol out into the spectating area, fans in hospitality can now pre-order a half-time drink

Football fans can now enjoy a half-time pint in hospitality at McDiarmid Park.

Previously alcohol sales were prohibited from half an hour before kick-off until after the final whistle.

This week Perth and Kinross Licensing Board unanimously agreed to change St Johnstone FC's licensing arrangements, bringing Saints in line with other Scottish clubs.

However, in Scotland it remains illegal to bring alcohol outwith the hospitality area at a football match, into the stand and within sight of the pitch. The alcohol ban has been in place ever since rioting after an Old Firm Scottish Cup final in 1980.

Last summer St Johnstone FC's American owner Adam Webb spoke out against the Scottish football alcohol ban describing it as "discriminatory" and making "no sense" when "you’re able to go to rugby match - an equally aggressive, competitive affair - and be able to have as much beer as you want".

He spoke of taking "baby steps" potentially towards the removal of the ban.

The club's owner said: "We can sell between a certain time, then maybe a bit longer. Once you see there’s no harm with that, we can take another step and have a gradual programme."

At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Licensing Board on Wednesday, April 2, councillors were told the club was seeking to modernise its licensing arrangements.

The club's chief executive Francis Smith attended the meeting - in the council chambers - alongside licensing lawyer Stephen McGowan.

Presenting the application, Mr McGowan - who represents Saints, alongside a host of other Scottish football clubs - told the board: "St Johnstone is more than just a football club. It's a family, it's a community, it's an important part of the cultural fabric of the wider area and - like many other clubs - they want to provide a space for supporters which is about a wider match-day experience.

"They're always on the lookout for ways to improve both the fan experience and wider use of the stadium."

He added: "The current local condition on the licence is that no alcohol is to be sold 30 minutes before sporting events until the conclusion of sporting events. We're asking your honours to delete that condition in its entirety.

"The condition is very unusual in the wider context of football clubs across the country. I'm not aware of another premier league club that prevents sales at half-time."

He cited a list of clubs he represents - including Ranger, Celtic, Aberdeen and Ross County - "who do not have that condition".

He requested a "level playing field" with other clubs, allowing St Johnstone FC to offer a pre-ordered drink to fans in hospitality at half-time.

He said: "The alcohol provision would still be responsible; it would still be supervised in a dynamic, risk-assessed basis."

Cllr John Duff asked what measures would be taken to ensure no alcohol was brought through into the stand during the match.

Mr McGowan assured councillors: "Fran and his team, the security, management and hospitality staff are all trained within an inch of their lives to ensure that nobody is removing alcohol from those areas to take them into the seats. That's not allowed. We know that's the case."

The Licensing Board unanimously approved the application. It included a wide variety of updates to the club's licence, which also now permits off-sales allowing specialist alcohol gifts to be sold from the club shop.