Aberdeen becomes the first Scottish club allowed to sell alcohol at its stadium since 1981!

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Stadium Traveller

·29 September 2026

Aberdeen becomes the first Scottish club allowed to sell alcohol at its stadium since 1981!

The sale and consumption of alcohol has been banned in Scottish stadiums, mainly for football matches, since 1981. The law followed the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park, which ended with a fight between supporters on the pitch.

The incident sparked a debate and the 1981 law introduced a ban on alcohol for designated sporting events. Rugby is generally not affected.

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Aberdeen becomes the first club allowed to sell alcohol in Scotland since 1981.

During the 2025/2026 season, various trials were carried out with clubs interested in testing the measure. 10 clubs took part across 20 matches.

Two trial matches were held in Aberdeen, with positive conclusions.

Following these trials, Aberdeen FC became the first Scottish club to obtain a permanent licence to sell and allow the consumption of alcohol at its stadium since the start of the 2026/2027 season.

This licence is granted under several conditions:

Alcohol can only be sold until 30 minutes before kick-off.
Alcohol can only be sold and consumed in the lower concourses of the Richard Donald Stand.
Consumption is only permitted in designated areas with no view of the pitch.
Alcohol will only be sold for fixtures considered to be low-risk.

Further trials at Hampden Park in September and October.

In addition to the trials across 20 matches involving 10 clubs, two test matches were held at Hampden Park in March and May 2026, at the stadium that led to this ban more than 45 years ago.

Alcohol stands were set up during Scotland's friendly matches against Japan on 28 March 2026 and Curaçao on 30 May 2026. Alcohol consumption was only permitted in the concourses. Both trials took place without incident.

Two further trials are now scheduled during this international break, with two Scotland matches at Hampden Park:

Against Switzerland on Tuesday 29 September 2026
Against Slovenia on Tuesday 6 October 2026

Major developments for Scottish stadiums, several decades after the 1981 law.

In England and Wales, a law has banned alcohol consumption in the stands since 1985, notably for football matches in the first five divisions of English football (Premier League, EFL Championship, EFL League One, EFL League Two and National League). The British Prime Minister addressed the issue on 23 September, describing the law as “discriminatory”. Read our article on the subject.