Proposals to allow football fans to drink alcohol in the stands should be considered “really carefully” due to concerns about violence and drug abuse, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has warned.
Laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within view of a football pitch were introduced in 1985, with then-Home Secretary Leon Brittan suggesting that alcohol was a “major contributory factor in violent and disorderly behaviour” at football grounds.
However, Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently hinted at changing the rules, claiming in September that “there is a case to remove that discrimination” and that the current “legislation dates to an era where football was very different”.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has come out strongly against any proposed changes, telling the London Assembly that officers remain concerned about violence and drug use at football matches.
“I wish the culture at football matches was the same as it is at other sporting events – it’s not,” he told Assembly Members yesterday.
“We still see violence at football matches. We still see challenges.
“Any step back at loosening the regulations would have to be really carefully thought about. I’m worried about the violence we still see at matches. I’m worried about the drugs we see at matches. So I’d be very cautious about it.”
The Mayor was also asked for his views on the issue but said he would provide a written response in due course.
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Gareth Roberts, who questioned the pair on the issue, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) afterwards: “When the Met Commissioner expresses serious concerns about lifting the football drinking ban, the Prime Minister should listen.
“Instead, he’s playing to the stands while ignoring the officers on the front line. After years of relentless police cuts, the last thing our police force needs is a Government making their jobs even harder.”
A Home Office source said: “The Government does not have any imminent plans to amend the law preventing drinking alcohol within view of the pitch at designated football matches. We continue to keep alcohol controls under review, taking into account football disorder issues and trends.”
Sir Mark was also asked about the overall cost of policing football matches in London.
Last year, he revealed that policing operations across all matches in England and Wales cost around £70 million. However, analysis from the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) found that clubs reimbursed only a fraction of those costs, leaving taxpayers to cover the remaining bill.
There are 14 professional football clubs in London, including reigning Premier League champions Arsenal, creating a significant demand on the Metropolitan Police.
Recent data shows that in the 2023/24 season, policing operations at matches cost more than £23 million, with just over £2 million reimbursed.
In 2023, the Mayor of London said the extensive bills “reflect the increased risk of crime, disorder and ASB, and the MPS response to the recommendations in the December 2021 Baroness Casey report into the Euro 2020 final disorder in July 2021.”
Sir Mark told the London Assembly that they were “still looking to government to regulate so that the polluter pays, frankly”.
He added: “It’s a big amount of police resources that are going to police football matches – I would like to see that fully reimbursed. And I know the government’s considering it.”
The Mayor of London added: “I’ve supported the Commissioner in terms of tweaking that could lead to additional resources for London. We’re hopeful we can get further support in relation to this important issue.”
In October 2025, Policing Minister Sarah Jones confirmed that the Government was “concerned that the cost of policing football matches that is currently falling to the public purse is too high” and that ministers were “exploring ways to address this”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was also contacted for comment.
