THE issue of allowing drink to be sold at football matches has come to the fore once again.

 

Let's get one thing straight. You can already have a drink at a game, and it helps enhance the match-day experience.

The only change would be that it would be available to all, not just those with access to lounges.

No one wants to see a return to the old days when fans could roll up with a large carry out, including bottles which could potentially be used as missiles.

I know just how many were being taken into grounds - I was one of the groundstaff kids who had to sweep up all the bottles and cans on a Monday morning.

The important aspect is that selling alcohol at kiosks in stadia would mean consumption is controlled by the clubs.

That's the situation in other sports, and at football matches in a lot of other countries, including England.

I'm only too aware of what it was like back in the bad old days, culminating in the horrible scenes at the end of the 1980 Scottish Cup final when Old Firm fans clashed on the Hampden pitch.

But, we have moved on a lot since then, not least with the facilities at stadia, including CCTV, stewarding and policing.

So I'm in favour of trialling it here.

If you want people to behave like adults, you have to treat them like adults.

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