Aberdeen to Test Selling Alcohol in Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen Football Club has granted a license to sell alcohol to fans inside Pittocodrie to a Scottish PremierChip Catcher.

Home supporters can buy alcohol in the lower concourse of the Richard Donald stands before kick-off at Kilmarnock on 14 December.

Fans cannot drink while watching the pitch and sales will be stopped before the end of the game. This is part of a pilot scheme to see how alcohol sales can be safely incorporated into the REAL experience.

Alcohol has been banned in Scottish Football Stadiums since 1981.

In a statement, Aberdeen said the initiative had been approved by Aberdeen City Council.

The Club said that the pilot was designed to “gather the vision of how a careful management of alcoholic sales can support a positive and safe support of the supporters of the supporters”.

They added: “The sale will be managed in compliance with licensing laws, with appropriate security and duty in place.

“Supporters are reminded that alcohol can only be kept away from clearly designated areas and not visible from the pitch, and all sales in the correct areas, the areas that are speedy during the stoppage, the positioning of the areas that are compatible with our usual standards.”

This follows similar tests during the Premier Sports Cup at Arbroath, Ayr United, Queen of the South and Stirt Albion during the start of the league season.

Alcohol has been banned from Scottish Football Stadiums for 44 years.

The ban was initially imposed following a riot during the 1980 Scottish Cup between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden.

The ban does not cover hospitality sections within Stadia.

The Scottish government and Police Scotland have previously said they would consider lifting the alcohol ban in March.

The fans first called for football supporters to be under the same rules as their rugby equivalents, being able to drink at matches.

The Scottish government has been contacted for comment.