Burnham urges review of football stadium alcohol ban

Andy Burnham, the presumptive next Prime Minister, has signaled his support for lifting the long-standing ban on football fans consuming alcohol in stadium seats. The Labour MP made the comments while attending a rugby league match on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

Speaking in a video posted on social media, Burnham questioned the disparity in rules between sports. He was at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium watching the Leigh Leopards defeat the Warrington Wolves. Gesturing to Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who was holding a pint, Burnham asked why rugby supporters could drink in the stands while football fans at an Everton home game could not. He stated there was something wrong with the situation and that it needed to be looked at.

The prohibition stems from the Sporting Events Act of 1985, which was introduced to combat football hooliganism. The law bans the consumption of alcohol within direct sight of the pitch at designated football matches. It does not prevent the sale of alcohol in concourses, but fans cannot take drinks to their seats. The restriction applies specifically to men's professional football in England; spectators at rugby, cricket, tennis, and, as of a...