27 Nov 2025
By Maddie Thomas, Trainee Solicitor, Corporate, Gilson Gray
For the first time in 45 years, Scottish football supporters will be able to buy an alcoholic drink inside a stadium at a top-flight match. Aberdeen FC’s recent success in securing a one-off licence to sell alcohol at Pittodrie represents a watershed moment (at the Red Shed for those Dons’ fans). However this is not limited to football fans, but for the wider licensing law and public policy in Scotland.
The sale of alcohol at Scottish football matches was banned in 1980 following the infamous riot at the Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers. The incident prompted the introduction of Section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980, which outlawed the sale or consumption of alcohol within sight of the pitch. This prohibition has been seemingly untouchable and reshaped the Scottish football culture on match days.
Yet the decision by Aberdeen City Council’s Licensing Board to grant a limited licence for the Dons’ match against Kilmarnock on 14 December 2025 marks the first real shift in that stance. Under the licence, alcohol may be sold only to home supporters, in a designated concourse area, and only prior to kick-off. Consumption in view of the pitch remains strictly forbidden.
Aberdeen FC is not the only club that will be experimenting with an alcohol licence at matches, with Championship side St Johnstone trialling alcohol sales against Queens Park and Greenock Morton. Additionally, there were similar trials at some Premier Sports Cup matches at the start of the season.
From a legal perspective, this development is significant because it demonstrates that existing licensing powers can be exercised with flexibility and discretion. The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 gives local boards scope to consider applications on their merits, balancing public safety with community benefit. Aberdeen’s case in particular shows that, with robust stewarding plans and risk assessments, a cautious, controlled reintroduction of alcohol can be approved without legislative change.
Of course, this pilot scheme will be watched closely by police, the Scottish Football Association, and government ministers. Should the event pass without incident, we can expect other clubs to follow suit, applying for similar restricted licences for low-risk fixtures. Over time, that may build pressure for a national review of the 1980 ban itself.
However, any move toward wider relaxation will require careful consideration. Public health campaigners and Police Scotland have long warned that reintroducing alcohol could increase disorder, place additional strain on emergency services, and encourage excessive pre-match drinking. On the other hand, many clubs argue that controlled sales within stadiums create safer environments than encouraging fans to drink heavily in nearby pubs before heading to the turnstiles.
Any future change will depend on compliance, communication, and careful drafting of licence conditions. It is one thing to grant permission in principle; it is quite another to manage consumption responsibly on match day. Whether this becomes a precedent or remains a one-off will depend on whether this experiment will be looked back on as a positive move for Scottish football.
After 45 years of prohibition, Aberdeen’s initiative represents more than a pint poured – it’s a test of modern Scotland’s ability to balance safety, culture, and common sense in the heated cauldron of match-day football.
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