Should Murrayfield alcohol ban be lifted?
- 16 Feb 07, 09:18 AM
What was missing from last weekend's game between at Murrayfield?
Tries? Max Boyce? A general feeling of well-being? (Wales fans only)
All good and true answers, but not the one which I'm looking for, which is, alcohol.
Oh, I'm sure there was a hip flask or two (thousand) being put to proper use inside Murrayfield and I'm also sure that plenty had been purchased from the pubs and tents around the ground before the 3.30pm kick-off.
Inside the ground, though, you could buy not a drop.
Some might feel this is indeed a goodly thing - we all know the damaging effects of the demon drink.
It's obvious at throwing out time in cities around the UK, obvious when Uncle George dances to 'Lady in Red' at the wedding. Alcohol is clearly the devil's work.
But should rugby supporters at Six Nations games have to exist in a state of prohibition?
Why, they say, should Murrayfield operate in this way when you can toddle off to the bar at half-time for a consoling/celebratory drink at Twickenham or in the Millennium Stadium?
One of the obvious benefits would be an increase in revenue for the Scottish Rugby Union - to the extent that the famous back pitches at Murrayfield may well be sold off for development.
And that's why The SRU has, for some time, been trying to exempt Murrayfield's rugby fixtures from the
It was brought in following years of violence at football matches and the Act banned the sale of alcohol at games. Murrayfield was included because it was thought at the time that football would be played at the stadium.
And certainly when Hearts have recently brought the round-ball game to Scotland's national rugby stadium there has been no question of the ban being lifted.
Yet in the past few years the occasional rugby match has taken place with drink on offer. The Heineken Cup Final of 2005, The game against The Barbarians in 2004 and Edinburgh games have all passed smoothly.
So, home and travelling supporters alike, what do you think?
Should the alcohol ban for international matches at Murrayfield be lifted? And, if so, why should it be treated differently from football?
Pass me that hip flask.
Wales 27-18 England
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I have to say that the alcohol ban at rugby matches is totally unnecessary. I have been a follower of the 鈥渙dd shaped ball鈥 all my life, and have never known any trouble at a game (Sure, some frosty stares at a Calcutta Cup match, but that鈥檚 about it). The fact that most the crowd have been in the pub before hand, and go there straight afterwards makes it even more of a farce.
I was at the Baa Baas game and had a great laugh, and a good few beers. If anything it increased the jovial feeling at the match.
I also have to add that I feel that it would (on some level) increase gates for friendly games. The opportunity to have a few with your friends is a contributing factor to staying in the pub to watch the game, rather than going to Murrayfield.
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Of course it should be lifted. Everyone knows that rugby fans can take their drink and behave in a most sophisticated and intelligent manor. Why should us gentlemen suffer just because football fans can't handle their favourite pint of watered down lager? (And yes I did have a hip flask with me last weekend!).
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Rugby fans are a more mature and responsible lots than footie fans. We mix well and enjoy the craic, and win or lose savour the atmosphere.
I am sure that the stewards at Murrayfield will be able to deal with any fans who become slightly the worse for wear during a game, and isn't it the case that anyone arriving at the ground inebriated is refused access?
So allow the serving of pints during rugby matches at Murrayfield. They'll be very much in demand when Scotland face the All Blacks in the RWC.
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Of course alcohol should be allowed to flow freely as it does at most international and local rugby games. It is part of rugby heritage, a pint n a pie. We have all seen that the only dire result of alcohol abuse at rugby games are a few streakers, which can make a dull game far more entertaining. Rugby fans should not suffer the same discipline and punishment as those attending football matches. Rugby fans set a great example to the small minority at football games who abuse the system and get out of hand. This should be carried out at all international and national fixtures.
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Spot on comment. With the current situation, nobody wins, the SRU are sturggling with debt and the fans can't have the drink they can have at other international grounds. I can't think there would be any trouble caused by the sale of alcohol other than 拢4 we'd probably be expected to pay for a pint in plastic cup. But nonetheless, bring it on!
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I must say that my one and only visit to Murrayfield last season for the Calcutta Cup match, was not only blighted by the result, but also the inability to enjoy a couple of pre or post-match drinks with friends and opposition supporters. Forget the issue of tents 'outside' the ground. The queues almost circumnavigated the tents and I would have probably missed most of the game if I'd persevered. Perhaps under the circumstances, not a bad thing.
Nonetheless, unless things change I very much doubt I shall repeat the long trip to what is otherwise a wonderful stadium and, with the exception of one idiotic Scottish 'fan' who had obviously availed himself with a good deal of Tennants elsewhere, a fine set of supporters.
Come on Scotland - Sort it out!
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Ofcourse the ban should be lifted. Many times have i sat in a flat murrayfield, in victory and defeat. The spirit in which the six nations is played each year is fantastic. Football violence problems are well documented, and adding alcohol inside the ground to that would just be stupid. However, as ive said, crowd violence is just not a part of the six nations, alcohol would simply increase the atmosphere and banter at all games...get it sorted!
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I can understand it for football as there are the mindless minority but rugby is a totally different animal, fans can sit amongst each other without there being any trouble, win,lose or draw we will all have afew beers before and after the game so it makes no difference if people have a couple of drinks during the game.
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Is it just me or does anyone else find it amusing that people go to a stadium to watch finely tuned athletes at the peak (well some of them anyway) of their powers while having a drink themselves and thus moving further away from good health and fitness themselves.
I just cant see the connection between sport and alcohol
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Actually having visited Murrayfield for the first time last weekend I was very pleased to see a lack of bars.
One of the most irritating things about the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is the constant stream of people going to/from the bars and consequently to/from the toilets. It was a nice change to be able to watch a game without having to stand up or sit down every two minutes (altho from a performance point of view perhaps not being able to see would have been preferable).
One compromise - which I wish the MS would adopt would be to have bars open pre and post match, and at half time, but not during the game itself.
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I wholeheartily agree. I was at the Autum International against the Pacific Islanders, alcohol was allowed at that match and caused no trouble whatsover whilst adding to our enjoyment of the experience of being at an international match.
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When you are at the end of a long row of seats at Twickenham, you spend all match letting people get past to go the bar or the loo, rather than being able to watch the match. I get the feeling there are too many non-rugby fans at England matches played Twickenham who are just there for the beer and with very little interest in the match.
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on the front of scotland shirt - Famous Grouse.
How's that for a connection?
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IF you want to watch the game with a pint go to the pub..alternatively if you find it difficult to go 80 or so minutes without a drink then you might be better off going to your doctor. I can no longer be bothered to go the Millennium due to the constant interruptions caused by the coming and going of "supporters" getting up to go to the bar and then naturally to use the toilets. Also in my experience there has been a vast increase in the idiocy of in the crowd often associated with drunkeness. It is a bit arrogant to assume rugby spectators are above this.
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There's isn't a connection between sport and alcohol, but then watching rugby is not, in itself, sport.
Rugby doesn't suffer from the bile and hatred that permeates some of the more fundamentalist football supporters, so a couple of pints during the game would only fuel banter and bonhomie, not bigotry and belligerence.
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This ban doesn't make sense at any level, although I suspect that the dead hand of health and safety may lurk somewhere in the background.
And it is just slightly ironic that Scotland are sponsored by... The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky. Add in the Guinness Premiership south of the border and the Heineken Cup and the drinks industry is putting a fair amount of investment into the game. Why shouldn't they get something back from thirsty fans?
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Once it is relaxed for rugby then Rangers and Celtic will slowly try and relax the ban for football too. Sorry but the ban should stay.
Is there not enough time to drink before and afterwards?
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After travelling up to watch what was a dreadful match in the freezing cold stadium I can't help feeling that the atmosphere would have been better if they sold alcohol. This doesn't mean that the welsh need a drink to enjoy the rugby-but when your team is playing so poorly and your body is just concentrating on fighting hypothermia a pint or two would have bought welcome relief to both situations!
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I always wondered why so many rugby matches had empty seats at Murrayfield. I thought it was just because the team were rubbish and Scots didn't like the game anyway but now I know. I remember when they banned alcohol form the West Terrace at Headingley cricket ground and it was empty for the first day of a test match. So love it or loath it, serving alcohol makes commercial sense and can liven up th atmosphere a little.
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Alcohol - beer at any rate - is synonymous with the game of rugby. I remember observing another pre-match tradition by standing about 20 from the bar in one of 8 queues in the marquee outside Northampton Saints ground, getting my pint (OK, 2 pints to cut out waiting for the next one) 15 minutes later, making my way to my seat - and being disgusted to find new bars in place under the stands! No queueing! No lighthearted banter with the opposition fans as you wait! So simple! And no trouble, despite the ready availability of the demon drink!
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OF COURSE THE BAN SHOULD BE LIFTED AS STATED BEFORE FOOTBALL AND RUGBY ARE TWO DIFFERENT ANIMALS. RUGBY SUPPORTERS CAN SIT WIT THE OPPOSITION AND TALK TO EACH OTHER WHERE AS FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS FIND DEEP JOY IN HURLING ABUSE AT EACH OTHER FROM A DISTANCE AND THEN FIND IT AMUSING TO HAVE THE ODD FIGHT BEFORE OR AFTER THE GAME. I AM A FAN OF BOTH SPORTS BUT FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PAYING YOUR TICKET FEE IN FOOTBALL GIVES YOU THE EXCUSE TO SWEAR AT PLAYERS AND SUPPORTERS ALIKE. DRINK IN SPORT CAN BE GOOD BUT ONLY IF THE SUPPORTER BASE IS ADULT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. BY THE WAY I AM A POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH DRUNKEN IDIOTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS SO FEEL I HAVE A VALID POINT AFTER POLICING 2 FOOTBALL WORLD CUPS AND NOT HAVING ANYTHING PLANNED FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUPS IN WHICH ENGLAND WON THE LAST ONE.
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Lift the ban, let the people have what they want!
However, I would like to point out that not all rugby games are without their troubles. Take a look at this .
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I recall the "good old days" when I was in the schoolboy's enclosure at Murrayfield for the Scotland v. Wales game (c1985/86). The old terracing was still in use, and I clearly remember a young Scottish boy giving some lip to a Welsh fan behind him who had had a few warm-up drinks. The Welsh guy urinated on the boy (who was about 12) and then disappeared up the terrace before the police got there. In addition to that, the Welsh national anthem used to be no more than a massive drunken mumble.
The alcohol ban has its good points. What they should do is ban the embarrassing music that follows every single score. That really spoils the atmosphere as far as I am concerned.
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In reply to paul o'laughlins post;
The traditonal relationship between alchol and rugby has been evident since the first meeting of the RFU in 1871. On this occasion the representing offcial from Wasps turned up at the wrong venue and got well and truly plastered as a result.
Your comment on alchol and sport is a particularly important one- as surely one cannot promote sport as a healthy affair whilst using sponsors that contradict this, (as seen with motorsport and cigerettes).
However the game of rugby is full of traditons, and by neglecting these the character of the sport would be deminished.
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I went to the Rugby League challenge cup final last year at Cardiff and was stopped from taking a plastic bottle of mineral water into the ground by the fanatics at the gates. Even the police agreed that the ban was ridiculous but the ground staff made the rules. I didn't bother to check whether they were selling drinks inside, I just won't go there again.
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I witnessed a very strange mexican wave at the Middlesex Sevens some years ago. As the wave progressed around the ground, I noticed that it seemed browner than one would have thought. Upon arrival I realised that everyone was throwing their pint into the air. The Mexican wave lasted for two complete circuits of Twickenham, leading me to believe that most people were double banking. I know I was. Pass that hip flask.
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Oh hell yeah!
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Good God yes it should be lifted. Cash for the SRU and beer for the masses, it's win/win. Saturday was my first ever dry game as the queues outside the stadium were awful....
Wartching rugby + Alcohol= all round good time.
To #9(Paul) - If there was a danger of me having to play the game they i wouldn't have a drink, same as I wouldn't have had that cold hot dog at half time, but as I am there to be entertained then damn man I want my beer.
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Of course it should, Rugby Football and Association Football differ so widely in culture that include the former in the ban was always a wicked and a stupid thing to do.
The curbs on the public at sporting events should be made only where relevant, sports such as Rugby, Hockey and domestic cricket fixtures differ so widely from the events that these rules that there is no sanity in applying them. The only reason that it is done is the stupidity, and political correctness, of legislators.
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it really does make sense with the SRU needing money. if ur worried about football wanting to follow suit, they havnt tried to abandon segregated crowds. it makes the occasion more enjoyable
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I was at Croker last Sunday and the only complaint I have about alcohol in the ground is the amount of time it took to get some.
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It is a pity that you cant have one or two drinks, especially when at some games it is baltic.Some drink might help keep some feeling in the toes.
I dont think there would be any bother drinking at a rugby game as rugby is a thugs games played and watched by gentlemen, whereas football is a gentlemans game played and watched by thugs!!
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Marfleet (#24) is quite right about the Wasps representative going to the wrong pub back in 1871 and so missing the meeting which kicked the whole Rugby Union thing off.
This tradition has been proudly carried forward over the years - in the 70s a Wasps 1st XV prop allegedly turned up at the home ground at Sudbury only to find his game was at Sunbury (London Irish) instead. He had a beer (or six) to make up for the disappointment.
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BEER + RUGBY = FANTASTIC
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Alcohol should of course be sold in the ground as it is at Twickenham and the Millennium, I attend virtually every Scotland match at Murrayfield and good percentage of away games. At Murrayfield the crowds have generally just spent 2/3 hours in the pubs around the ground mixing with and enjoying the company of the oppositions supporters, and then it's a mad dash to get in before the start, having the option of getting their last pint at the ground in their seat would make for a better day all round as well as giving the SRU much needed funds. At Twickenham this year the bars in the ground stopped serving about ten minutes before kickoff to get everyone in their seats, and to be honest there was no great rush for more at half time so therefore no stupidities.(Don't think it would reduce the amount of hip flasks incidentally!!)
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I think the ban should stay as it keeps the stadium safe for all the kids that go to enjoy themselves. There would most likely be alcohol being thrown over everyone.
If people are that desparate for a drink then watch the game in the pub.
It is an absolute pain getting up and down all the time to let people out to go to the bar or the toilet. I want to watch the game not drink.
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It should definately be lifted namely for the reason that it could bring in some extra easy cash for the SRU. All facts written above are true that in general rugby fans are better behaved than football fans, I say this as not all football fans are low life violent individuals. Also how much can someone actually drink within say 2 hours and still be able to watch the game with to-ing and fro-ing to the bar. Would probably find that most would drink couple of beers therefore it is not going to turn into a riot.
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Watching rugby is a pleasure which is enhanced by a couple of pints, a good sing song and some friendly banter with opposition fans.
I have been to many rugby stadiums all over the world and Murryfield seems to be the only one with such a ban in place. It is no wonder the gates for friendlies are so low. I went to a saturday night match against Argentina and the stadium was not even half full. Many people I spoke to said they wouldn't go to the game due to it being a Satuday night and they all fancied a drink. The pubs were packed with people watching the game on TV.
I may be wrong but I have never heard of any trouble at an international rugby match, let alone one caused by alcohol.
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Totally agree with comments about the Millennium Stadium. Went to the Wales v Ireland match in 2005. Great game and great atmosphere, but the day was spoilt by having to stand up at least every 5 minutes to let someone to or from the bar (or the toilet!!) and also having beer spilt over me as they watched an exciting passage of play whilst tripping over me. By all means open bars before and after games, but there is no need to have them open during. The true rugby fans are there to watch the sportnot quaff the champagne (or lager).
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The (English) RFU hasn't been slow to see the potential of selling beer at about 拢3.30 per pint to thousands of people. The West Car Park at Twickenham has several vast bars, open-air screens etc, there are loads of bars in the ground, and even people walking about with 'beer backpacks' dispensing lager via a hose/tap arrangement.
The end result is plenty of availability and huge sales, I'd estimate a couple of hundred thousand pints are consumed at Twickenham on a match day. Yes, the constant interruption of people going in and out of their seats is annoying, but there's no going back I don't think.
Late kick-offs, by which i mean later than 4pm, can create a drunken atmosphere that is not all good. Cardiff city centre is pretty scary on a match-day evening especially as lots of people come in for the 'craic' of watching it in the pub.
I hate to think what state some of the Welsh fans will be in by the time of the 9pm kick-off in Paris next week. Heroic drinking is part of rugby folklore, but it still seems strange to spend 拢500+ on a weekend and then not remember the game!
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DDDRRRIIINNNKK !!!!!
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The one thing nobody has pointed out so far is that the 19xx legislation was specifically for "football" venues and Murrayfield is NOT designated as a football stadium. However, the SRU at the time decided to voluntarily opt-in to complying with the legislation!
Now you would think that if we voluntarily agreed to comply, we should be able to opt back out again wouldn't you?
But think on this, your average football fan(atic) neither knows nor cares about what designation a stadium has. All he is aware of is that you can't drink there. If the Executive were to lift the ban totally at Murrayfield, it would be perceived by the general football fraternity to double standards of the worst sort. So the ban stays.
Solution, find the bufties who agreed in the first place and ask them why?
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I agree with the ban it's not about Rugby fans fighting when drunk they never have and I'm sure never will.
I don't know about you fellas but I like to watch the match not: get up and down all match long while others got for drinks, pass beers down the row, spill beer on you and then get up again to use the toilets be cause they are full of beer. You want to drink at a match bring a hip flask take a sip stay warm and in fine voice with no need to run to the toilets every 5 mins.
Anyway, Beer Ain鈥檛 Drinking
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i was lucky enough to go to the heineken cup final and the following day the playoff finals (watford leeds) on the same weekend in cardiff. the class of people at the two occasions could not have been more varied. i know it is a swooping generalisation, but football fans have a different midset to rugby ones. i felt intimidated most of the day when ever i was in a mixed fans situation, where as for the rugby (granted there were not many french), i sat in a pub with the french after the game! scotish officials must see sence and allow what is an intrinsic part of the spectator experience to exist at murryfield
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I was in Millenium Stadium for the Wales V France game last season, Twickenham for England v South Africa, I was also in Murrayfield for Scotland versus Autralia, England, and Wales recently.
I go to local rugby here in England where alcohol is on sale, Northampton, Gloucester, Leicester and Coventry.
The benefit for me, a tea totall ex player, is that at Murrayfield, very few people leave their seats during the match. In the other stadia, there is a constant stream of people getting up and going to the toilet, or to the bars, or both. They do not care that they are causing a distraction and worse for other spectators. They often cause us to miss important phases of play incuding tries, drop goals and key moves. Recently at Gloucester, I missed a sparkling run by Brian O'Driscoll becuase of a "walkabout" beer seller and his customers. Is 40 minutes too long to wait for a "pee" and 2 hours too long to wait for a drink?
I realise that due to economic pressures, Rugby Clubs and Unions must maximise earnings, but the constant ebb and flow of people as a direct result of beer (it's not even a Scottish drink), is really annoying.
Perhaps stadia could be segregated into alcohol free areas for the fans who don't want to be disturbed, and the area where people can drink and go for a "pee" at any point and thus the only people who would be disturbed would be those who do the disturbing.
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Don't see the designation of the stadium is an issue the Millennium Stadium holds Association and Rugby Football. As did Loftus Road when I saw Wasps there many years ago there were different rules for diffeent matches surely it is not that tricky.
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Me and the boys were over the moon last May to be able to enjoy a few cool pints at the Heineken Cup final at the Millenium Stadium. Murrayfield has a similarly amazing atmosphere during the 6 Nations...wouldn't it be lovely to make those moments all the more warm and fuzzy with an enjoyable pint!!
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maybe a few hours a week where the natives cant get alcohol is a good thing? i mean, its not as if they are going to dry out is it???
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in reference to #9 Paul McLaughlin
-
Do any of the following competitions ring a bell?
Heineken Cup
Magners League
Guiness Premiership
I live in Edinburgh and wholly agree with the alcohol ban being lifted. However I want something back from the SRU.
having recently been down to Twickenham where they have purpose designed bars with high quality screens set up so you can catch the action of the preceding game/build up before the game. I'd want this at Murrayfield, not just a few tents on the back pitches. I'd want bars on the areas under cover round the ground with the screens. I for one would be happy to turn up a few hours before the game and get the atmosphere going rather than in a pub and have to rush to the game.
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I couldn't agree more with the sentiment of the article. Rugby fans know how to behave, and go along for the sporting occasion and NOT a punch-up. We don't suffer the same mindless muppets that the decent football supporters have to put up with.
I took my football loving mate with me to Twickenham last Saturday to watch England v Italy, and he was astounded by the difference in atmosphere - no crowd trouble, not even any tension in the air. And mounted police that were having a laugh and a joke with the supporters!
All this in spite of copious amounts of alcohol being available (as for those beer backpacks - GOT to get me one of them!).
I've never seen any trouble at a rugby match, and never expect to.
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At least at Murrayfield you don't get disturbed every 5 minutes by idiots carrying their drinks to their seats. KEEP THE BAN
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Of course it should be lifted.
There isn't as much trouble with rugby fans, me and my friends had a ball getting merry with the Welsh in the pubs before (and after)the game last week. And the hip flask during the game certainly helped to keep me warm!
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My wife and I went o the Scotland V Australia game last autum and we will not go back to Murryfield again. No beer in the ground and on top of that my wife had a can a red bull taken off her! This ban is stupid. Could of done with a drink as it was freezing that day
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Having seen Scotland play at Twickenham, Millenium and Murrayfield and reading the comments, by far the best solution is to open the bars before the game and at the end.
On Saturday the bars were crowded with Scots and Welsh drinking and trying to capture the England v Italy match. Transport that to Murrayfield with widescreen TVs and you have the start of a great day.
During the game is a pain, moving for those who cannot go 40 minutes without & having been on the receiving side of 3 spilt pints down my back in Wales during the game, there is also a need for a ban at the MS.
International Rugby is more than just a game of 80 minutes, its an event where both sets of supporters get together and enjoy the atmosphere.
Having the bars open after the game would prevent the 60,000+ crowd making their way to Rose Street to get to the first bar and allow all sides to get together and discuss the woes of their side. Open the bars, be sensible on what happens and bring in the revenue for Scottish Rugby.
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I agree with lifting the ban. Every game of rugby i've been to the hip flask was always in the pocket !!
Having moved to Australia a year/half ago I,ve been to a few sporting venues to watch Rugby, Cricket & Football (soccer as the like to call it) & drinking at games has never been an issue. Usually at the start of the second half they only serve low alcohol beverages which is fair enough.
We know there isn't the same segragation as in Soccer matches & thats the reason everybody gets along, alcohol or no alcohol !!
Bring it back Murrayfield !!
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Like other correspondents I no longer go to internationals at the Millenium Stadium. The constant traffic of drinkers and urinators impides watching and spoils the spectacle, and the drunks and not so drunks urinating in the washing bowls at half time and end of match is simply unacceptable.
Gwyn Williams
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Should it be legal to sell alcohol within Murrayfield? I think the answer is definately yes, however I am puzzled as to how this will be acheivable as unlike the Millenium stadium there is no room to build bars close to the seats. Will the status quo remain the same where fans will have to wait in line to get served at the beer tents outside I hope not. And if Murrayfield was to change to include bar facillities how much would it cost the paying fans in ticket prices?
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unfortenatly, ( dont mind my english cause i am dutch )we all know that the good will suffer under the bad, yes i do think it should be legal to sell alcohol within Murrayfield, but we all know that some people cant control themselfs when it comes to alcohol and they get agressief and bullie's when they've got a bit of booze in them, but on the otherside we also know that a bit of scotch down your neck when youre standing in the cold watching your favorite game gives a nice feeling to the whole show.
so my opinion is yes it should be possible , but there should a bit of control about the use of it
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if bars were to be include in Murrayfield as a means of income collecting then hopefully it would ease the costs of disabled fans having to pay 拢10 to park in a muddy ditch outside the ground and then struggle to get a wheelchair or hobble with crutches to get to the gates.
I also think the excuses given ie beer drinkers needing toilet breaks and thus disturbing the viewing pleasure of many is absolute rubbish - watch how many tea drinkers still go to the toilets during the game. I dont drink tea so do I have a valid point of banning tea !!!
( I know I shouldn't give them any ideas).
as with any mass congregation of sports fans, be it whatever sport, there will always be the odd few who will spoil it for others, but why ruin the day for 82,000 just because of a few?
I am a 'dry' fan who is a disabled ex rugby player of 19 years - but agree to 'a swally wi' a gemme'.
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I was at Murrayfield for the first time last weekend. Because of the snow in Wales on the Friday, we had driven up from 3 a.m that morning. We just had time to drop our stuff at a hotel, catch a train and follow the hoards down towards the stadium. We passed a few pubs with huge queues spilling into the streets, and decided to wait until we reached the stadium. The Famous Grouse tent was a no-go - would have taken an hour to get served. Found our seats and asked my boyfriend to go and find me a drink ! Imagine my face when he turned up with a cup of hot chocolate !!! I'm no alcoholic, I rarely drink a pint, but it had been a long day ! After that terrible result for Wales, the long walk back to station, it was absolute heaven to find a seat in a pub with a pint placed in front of me !!!
Yes, it IS annoying getting up for people to go to the toilet, but maybe they could put posters - " Please use the toilet before taking your seat" ?
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I don't understand it, everything points to the fact that the ban should be lifted, especially as the SRU are desperate for the cash.
If there are 67000 people in the stand and they take after Twickenham an sell a bottle (plastic) or pint (in a plastic glass) for 拢3. How many pints would they sell before, during and after? A hell of a lot is the answer.
I'm Scottish and its a real shame, the beer tents are so overcrowded at Murrayfield that its horrible and it was great a few weeks back to have a few beers inside Twickenham. It meant there was no last minute rush to get from the bars to the seats and also we weren't in a hurry at the end of the game to get to the nearest pub, we messed around inside the ground and finished our beers at leisure (and chatted to these nice english girls who wanted to look up our kilts !!!)
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It's unfair that rugby fans should suffer because of football thugs poor conduct.
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Lift the ban.
I went to Twickenham to see England v Italy 2 years ago. I was allowed to drink all the way through and me and my group of friends (even though I am a Scot) had a great day. The singing was louder and there was great banter between the Italian and English fans.
I live in Cardiff now and the Millenium Stadium allows drinking and that totally adds to the atmosphere.
Murrayfield has fallen behind the times and is a lesser venue because of the booze question. International Rugby matches are occasions that represent more than just sporting excellence and rivalry, they are a celebration of nationalism and culture. Such festivals need a little loss of inhibition. Come on we might even shout the boys on a bit more!
The last truly great atmosphere I experienced at Murrayfield was Scotland v Ireland in the 1991 world cup quarter final. I smuggled in a bottle of famous grouse and shared it with complete strangers. Even Graham Shiel (only joking, he's a great player) played well in my eyes after that.
Murrayfield would sell out for the Italy match if the booze ban was lifted.
Maybe keep one of the stands alcohol free for children and families to cater for all?
Oh yes and think of the cash it would raise. The SRU needs it!
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Anyone who has been to the Hong Kong Sevens will know that alcohol and rugby can co-exist. The infamous South Stand attracts the more, shall we say, committed drinkers and the rest of the ground provides a happy family atmosphere. They even serve you at your seat so you don't disturb your fellow fans.
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I feel very sorry for Scottish and Welsh fans being denied a drink whilst watching their recent encounter.
To watch two such mediocre teams battle for the right to avoid joining Italy at the bottom of the table without the palliative of alcohol must be very painful.
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I agree with the vast majority of posts so far, the pros of lifting the ban do outweigh the cons. As for missing parts of the match because of supporters nipping off to the bar/loo, this might be very welcome by Scottish fans come 23 September when the All Blacks rock up!
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I am in favour of lifting the ban - it does seem ridiculous esp as I have never seen a hint of trouble at my many visits to Murrayfield over the years. However, as a female, I would suggest that if it is going to be lifted, that the SRU install a few more ladies loos at the ground. There seems to be about 3 mens facilities to every ladies, and the queues at the Welsh game a couple of weeks ago were enormous - 20 mins...
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I did see some Irish fans getting ejected from the ground for drinking from smuggled beer cans! How petty is that?
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I agree, the ban should be lifted at Murrayfield. After all, almost everyone at the games will have a Hip flask or TWO in there sporran and the ladies dont take big handbags for there make up!!! I have been to many rugby games both international and local and i have seen many "fights" on the pitch, however once off the pitch the boys end up in the club house having a pint together! Why should Murrayfiled be different, rugby fans can all handle there drink and have a bit of banter throughout the game and shake hands afterwards.
Bring the drink back to Murrayfield!!
P.S Penny #67 I agree 200% with you, they do need more ladies toilets as more women are attending the matches these days!!
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I like to get to the ground as early as possible before kick-off, have a pint or two in the ground and get to my place (usually on the terrace in Lansdowne) well before kick-off. No drink is allowed onto the terraces or stands which is a good idea. Although many bring hip-flasks full of lemonade or something. The Murrayfield ban is only hurting Scottish rugby which has a huge debt and could well service their overdraught (!) with profits from overpriced beer sales.
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We are starting to see a different supporter at the internationals. I come across more people with no knowledge at these games who enjoy like the rest of us a pint or two but in the main a lot more.
But things are changing and not for the better. The constant stream of foul and abusive language from the drunken sector have become an embarressment and I no longer take my wife to the game any more because of this.
Hopefully we will have a better take this coming weekend on our visit to Scotland/Italy but let's see.
Should Murrayfield join the rest of the international grounds?
I don't know, but my quarter bottle flask will accompany me and hopefully we won't be sat amongst the lunchtime drunks who tend to use language that would make the devil blush. When we watch the games in Italy I don't understand the language and that just may be a benefit but the glass of red at half time is just the ticket.
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I thought that the humble hip flask was also forbidden in Murrayfield.
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I think the alcohol ban needs to be lifted as a necessity, given the overdraft situation.
The Scottish Parliament / Executive cannot ignore the need for the SRU to reap the benefit of the revenue that will be generated.
Surely it is not beyond recognition that the sale of alcohol can be rigourously self-policed, by stewards and fans alike. We know what it's like to sit in a "dry" stadium, and would not want to jeopardise the renewal of licences.
Also, having followed rugby in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, all of the 6 nations venues and many English grounds, I can honestly say that I have never seen nor heard any "yobbish" behaviour. Quite the contrary, the laughs, banter and discussions before and after games creates a great convivial atmosphere.
I feel it is an absolute insult to the rugby folk of Scotland as well as our guests, that we are treated in this manner, and call on the licencing authorities to come into the 21st Century.
Thus avoiding the sale of back pitches or the total demise of our sport due to cash shortages.
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I remember the days before the ban, wading through oceans of discarded beer cans and paddling through pools of pee. Once the guy behind me peed down my welly. But the ground has changed so much - now that it's all seated, that just wouldn't happen any more.
I think the authorities should also look at cricket - people drink happily for 8 hours there and I've never seen a single fight. There's a family area for people who don't want to drink or be surrounded by over-cheery people - no reason why one area at Murrayfield couldn't do the same.
I agree about the atmosphere - I can't remember a recent game where it's been any good. Even when everyone is cheering and shouting, it feels somehow much more muted than other grounds.
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