Aberdeen to trial sales of alcohol at Pittodrie – Daily Business

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Cheers: Dons fans can have a matchday tipple

Aberdeen are to become the first Scottish Premiership club to participate in a pilot scheme to see if alcohol can be safely reintroduced on match days after 44 years.

Home fans will be able to purchase alcoholic drinks at Pittodrie for the game against Kilmarnock on 14 December, beverages on sale in the lower concourse of the Richard Donald Stand before kick-off.

Consuming the drinks within sight of the pitch will be prohibited and sales will cease before kick-off under the licence granted to the Dons.

Alcohol has been banned in Scottish football following a riot between Rangers and Celtic fans during the final of the 1980 Scottish Cup.

A club spokesperson said: “Sales will be managed in full accordance with licensing laws, with appropriate security and stewarding in place.

“Supporters are reminded that alcohol may only be consumed within clearly designated areas and not in sight of the pitch, and all sales will take place in clearly defined, monitored areas of the stadium. Matchday operations, stewarding and safety planning will remain consistent with our usual high standards.”

St Johnstone will also trial alcohol sales during Championship matches against Queen’s Park this Saturday and Greenock Morton on 20 December.

Home and away fans will be able to purchase alcohol from a pop-up bar at the rear of the East Stand at McDiarmid Park prior to kick off.

Similar trials were held during League Cup matches at Arbroath, Ayr United, Queen of the South and Stirling Albion earlier in the season.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our position on alcohol sales at Scottish football grounds has not changed.

“It is for local licencing authorities and Police Scotland to satisfy themselves that the pilot projects are permissible within the current legislative framework when granting licences.”

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