Fans with seats in the Community North Stand are to be allowed to drink IPA, cider and beer capped at 0.5%, reports Marco Marcelline
Leyton Orient is to trial letting fans drink “low and zero alcohol” beverages in their seats during matches.
Fans with seats in the Community North Stand are to be allowed to drink IPA, cider and beer capped at 0.5%, with Leyton Orient chief Mark Devlin stating the trial was an example of the club “trying to improve our supporters’ experiences at home fixtures”.
Since 1985, fans of top flight men’s football have been legally prohibited from drinking alcohol within view of the pitch from 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after the match. This ban applies to the top five tiers of the men’s professional game, including the EFL League One, which Leyton Orient competes in.
The law has been criticised by some who see it as a factor in half-time binging at football matches.
The trial will run for four-matches, and will start on the 27th September home match against Stevenage.
“We have been looking at the possibility of running a trial of this nature for some time,” Devlin adds, “and there was some support for the trial”.
The Echo however understands that some fans criticised the fact that North Stand seat holders will be banned from purchasing full-strength beer on the concourse during half time, in a bid to make sure those drinks don’t make their way to the stand.
The trial had been due to begin on Saturday, 13th September but was pushed back following a fan consultation.
Devlin stated: “We understand that some supporters may still want to enjoy a more traditional beer before the match or at half time, but I’d ask them to approach the trial with an open mind.
“The low alcohol options will allow fans to take their drinks to their seats and will also reduce the rush of needing to quickly consume drinks before the start of the match and at halftime.
“We’re asking supporters to approach this with an open mind. This trial is all geared towards trying to improve fans’ matchday experience; we will be one of the first clubs in the country to do something like this and we want to be bold with trying new things. We hope to learn a lot from the trial once it gets started.”
Alcohol at Brisbane Road is nothing new this season however, with the Women’s Super League allowing fans to drink full strength beer in their seats.
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