Alcohol Laws within football grounds in Ireland

[fbtn]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone knows the current alcohol laws in regard to LOI grounds.

I know there is some type of rule that no alcohol to be consumed within sight of the pitch but I can't find any proper guidelines.

Does anyone know where as a club you apply for an alcohol license and what is the process?

Also, can you have a beer in likes of United Park or Century Homes Park and watch the match out the window?

Cheers for any help.

[brendy_éire]

You're not allowed it in the stands just.

E.g. at Lansdowne, you can sit with a pint and watch the match from from behind the window at the bar, but you can't bring the pint into the stand.

[wonder88]

Is it a FIFA/UEFA rule that applies in lansdowne Rd as i think fans at rugby games are allowed to bring drinks to their seat. At Croker there is a similar rule in that you have to have your drink at the back of the stand. How many clubs in the LoI have bars, Dalymount and Gortakeggan i know of ?

[fbtn]

You're not allowed it in the stands just.

E.g. at Lansdowne, you can sit with a pint and watch the match from from behind the window at the bar, but you can't bring the pint into the stand.

Yeah that is my understanding of it too. I can't find any proper info on it.

It would definitely be a plus for many clubs if they had revenue coming in on match nights from beer as well as us long suffering fans.

wonder88 - United Park in Drogheda (they used to anyway) and Oriel in Dundalk both have bars.

[nigel-harps1954]

Doesn't Wexford have a bar in the clubhouse that overlooks the pitch too?

[adamd164]

They're not in the league at the minute, but Coleman's Park in Cobh has one. Right behind the goal.

[Dunny]

I think theres a members only bar in Tallaght

[askmehoop]

I think theres a members only bar in Tallaght

Glenmalure Suite. Never been into it but afaik theres no actual licence to sell alcohol as the council never applied for one. so you buy vouchers and exchange for drink. There are thoughts for building a clubhouse and getting a licence for it but nothing concrete.

[kdjaC]

Glenmalure Suite. Never been into it but afaik theres no actual licence to sell alcohol as the council never applied for one. so you buy vouchers and exchange for drink. There are thoughts for building a clubhouse and getting a licence for it but nothing concrete.

theres a stupid law in tallaght about pubs and fairly sure if you apply for a licence your beloved Maldron will shoot you down and it be Thomas Davis all over again.

Not allowed drink in view of the pitch is the law afaik.

We have yet to master the legit art of half time pints, stupid really 50 people 1 pint each is a decent return.

[osarusan]

On more than one occasion over the previous few seasons, you could buy pints and drink them standing at the wall at the pitch in Jackman Park. It was always some promotion where you bought a voucher and exchanged it for a pint (in a plastic glass), but after getting them, you could drink them wherever you wanted.

[oriel]

Dundalk have sometimes 4 bars in operation on a match night, 3 under the main stand, one of which is a sponsors/hospitality, 2 others for fans, one mainly for home terraced fans, the other for central stand fans, and the 4th is in use if there happens to be any event on in the YDC. Mostly Sat nights, but occasionaly on a Fri night. There are actually 2 bars in that building, but i think only one is in operation at any one time.All drink to be consumed within the bars only.

And to think we thought (for older fans) we would be be stuck for choices for a drink when the Derryhale hotel across the road closed down 10 years ago.

[L.T.F.C.]

You're not allowed it in the stands just.

E.g. at Lansdowne, you can sit with a pint and watch the match from from behind the window at the bar, but you can't bring the pint into the stand.
Where is Lansdowne?

[bullit]

Where is Lansdowne?

Here: http://www.dublintourist.com/details/lansdowne_road.shtml

[L.T.F.C.]

Here: http://www.dublintourist.com/details/lansdowne_road.shtml
Oh... That place? Shir that was torn down in 2007, long gone!

[redobit]

Do all clubs with bars in their grounds have a dedicated licence for that premises or do some clubs get an Event Licence every couple of weeks?

[bullit]

Do all clubs with bars in their grounds have a dedicated licence for that premises or do some clubs get an Event Licence every couple of weeks?

Dundalk just have a couple of ordinary pub licences afaik,sure we would be broke if we hadn't got them.Huge money to be made. OP is the number one party venue in Dundalk.

[superfrank]

Is it a FIFA/UEFA rule that applies in lansdowne Rd?
AFAIK, it's not as you can drink at football games in other countries.

[El-Pietro]

AFAIK, it's not as you can drink at football games in other countries.
you can in Holland anyway. Went to an AZ game a few years back, 2009 or 2010 and you could buy drink in the concourse and bring in back to your seats

[superfrank]

You can drink in the Czech Republic too but in Spain, you can't.

I think it's down to national laws.

[kdjaC]

Dundalk have sometimes 4 bars in operation on a match night, 3 under the main stand, one of which is a sponsors/hospitality, 2 others for fans, one mainly for home terraced fans, the other for central stand fans, and the 4th is in use if there happens to be any event on in the YDC. Mostly Sat nights, but occasionaly on a Fri night. There are actually 2 bars in that building, but i think only one is in operation at any one time.All drink to be consumed within the bars only.

And to think we thought (for older fans) we would be be stuck for choices for a drink when the Derryhale hotel across the road closed down 10 years ago.

let us into it this season too :) Sadly the SEI were stupidly drunk and probably wont be let in again.

[Charlie Darwin]

You can drink in the Czech Republic too but in Spain, you can't.

I think it's down to national laws.
Is it just football games then? As far as I know you can drink at the rugby.

[Neish]

Oh... That place? Shir that was torn down in 2007, long gone!

I refuse to call it the by its corporate name, especially since the company are shedding 100's of Irish jobs.

[L.T.F.C.]

I refuse to call it the by its corporate name, especially since the company are shedding 100's of Irish jobs.
See you're wrong there. It is its actual name. And the fact they are shedding 100s of Irish jobs has nothing to do with the sponsorship of Irish Football and Rugby.

[fbtn]

Okay guys...give one another a quick text there and you can iron out your difficulties regarding insurance companies :)

Does anyone know where I can get information re: applying for a club license?

I'd also be interested in hearing how that voucher system works from any Rovers or Limerick fans. That sounds like an excellent way of doing it.

[Eminence Grise]

Extensive research reveals the following alcohol restrictions in Irish grounds:

Ferrycarraig – fans may only drink Chianti Riserva purchased from Mick Wallace. If ordered through the Dáil bar, no excise is liable.
Gortakeegan – fans may take as much water as they like into the stands. Rod will turn it into wine. After he's finished walking on it.
Tallaght Stadium – any potent cocktail with an umbrella for decoration.
Richmond Park – only as much liquid as can be carried in an open hand. There hasn’t been a cup seen there in years.
Terryland – home fans of both clubs share a single pint. Always plenty to go round.
Dalymount – drink up! The barmen are looking for their win bonuses...

Other grounds – occasionally large quantities of bitter (depending on recent form, refereeing decisions, John-Delaney-hates-us navel-gazing psychosis etc).
Any club managed by Damien Richardson – the question of whether to partake in the act of imbibing a beverage of an alcoholic nature or otherwise is fundamental the personal ethic of the imbiber, and the milieu in which he finds himself at a specific juncture in his existence...
Any club for which Dave Rogers ‘moonlights’ – bottoms up!

[A N Mouse]

See you're wrong there. It is its actual name. And the fact they are shedding 100s of Irish jobs has nothing to do with the sponsorship of Irish Football and Rugby.

So where was the europa league final played?

[L.T.F.C.]

So where was the europa league final played?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_UEFA_Europa_League_Final

The 2011 UEFA Europa League Final was a football match played on 18 May 2011 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Aviva Stadium, renamed to "Dublin Arena" for the 2011 UEFA Europa League final

[outspoken]

It's a long standing debate within many clubs really regarding the opening of bars. On the plus side you obviously have great financial returns but on the downside it's very expensive initially to apply for a license and then you have the potential for one or two acting the maggot at games as they say.....

[A N Mouse]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_UEFA_Europa_League_Final

So it'll be called by the name you currently use to refer to it in perpetuity?

And say if you looked at a diffent wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviva_Stadium) the parent company - Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Comapany - won't be looking for new corporate sponsors in 5 or 6 years?

[Sean South]

I won't say there is any law in Ireland saying you can't drink at football stadiums, it would be just ground rules like no flares or pyrotechnics.

[Macy]

It's a long standing debate within many clubs really regarding the opening of bars. On the plus side you obviously have great financial returns but on the downside it's very expensive initially to apply for a license and then you have the potential for one or two acting the maggot at games as they say.....
Conditions are harder now to get an actual licence, and depends on the local regime to a certain extent. Apparently why we can't get one is to do with access to the toilets, when it would be no different to the likes of Tolka. I've no doubt it'd be a money spinner at most clubs, and also opens up other income streams such as functions.

The thing about "not within site of the pitch" is the UK law for football only. Doesn't apply to rugby, and never did. Before redevelopment Lansdowne wouldn't let you in with drink even for the Rugby (at the games I was at at least). Now they do - but I guess it's all seater now which could be part of it. Easy enough around it anyway, even in the UK. "I'll have a coke, and a double whiskey, please"

L.T.F.C. get over yourself. It was always Lansdowne, always will be. No matter who sponsors it. Fans aren't bound by the same bs rules as the media. Do you always insist on Flancare Park rather than the Flansiro?

[WindmillWarrior]

The bar in United Park has been closed the last 2 seasons, mores the pity. Supposedly the rates or licence fees or whatever are too expensive for the actual take at the tills.

[citybone]

You can drink in the stands in the USA and Italy, where people go around with drink in a tray for ya, although it is a little expensive and with little choice of drink.
I think i seen somewhere but there is some Irish law against Football Association clubs selling alcohol within view of the pitch although this law does not apply to GAA, Rugby, Cricket, Basketball etc. Cos no GAA fans would be drunk and disorderly at a Leinster final in Football and attack a ref. Only Football Association fans are hooligans.

[marinobohs]

You can drink in the stands in the USA and Italy, where people go around with drink in a tray for ya, although it is a little expensive and with little choice of drink.
I think i seen somewhere but there is some Irish law against Football Association clubs selling alcohol within view of the pitch although this law does not apply to GAA, Rugby, Cricket, Basketball etc. Cos no GAA fans would be drunk and disorderly at a Leinster final in Football and attack a ref. Only Football Association fans are hooligans.

Not sure there is a law as such in Ireland. I think certain grounds (Aviva/Lansdowne, Croker) choose not to sell alcohol when hosting football matches (they are all mad you know). I think the pitchside ban is a club rule to (a) stop people taking out glasses (and leaving them out) and (B) prevent some numpties from throwing bottles/glasses on to the pitch - or at people. There may also be some advice/orders on the matter from our old friends the Gardai.

[Charlie Darwin]

Surely it wouldn't be that difficult to get a couple of those rocket lads to go around selling plastic bottles of Carlsberg. There has to be some sort of legal reason stopping them, probably a prohibitively expensive license and/or need to grease palms.

[Macy]

Surely it wouldn't be that difficult to get a couple of those rocket lads to go around selling plastic bottles of Carlsberg. There has to be some sort of legal reason stopping them, probably a prohibitively expensive license and/or need to grease palms.
You'd think so. Look at the success of the dogs as a night out, basically as an excuse to drink.

[marinobohs]

Surely it wouldn't be that difficult to get a couple of those rocket lads to go around selling plastic bottles of Carlsberg. There has to be some sort of legal reason stopping them, probably a prohibitively expensive license and/or need to grease palms.

CD I know they operate (rocket lads type operation) at music (and other) gigs in the O2. I think they are covered by the licence operating on the premises so need no additional licence. I suspect the boys in blue (not the Dubs :o ) may take a hard line on the matter (especially in Dublin grounds) under public order provisions. Seem to recall bars were always shut in Croker for footie games and think most still are in Aviva/Lansdowne (as appropriate) except at corporate levels. This most definately not the case for rugger/bogball games.

[L.T.F.C.]

Conditions are harder now to get an actual licence, and depends on the local regime to a certain extent. Apparently why we can't get one is to do with access to the toilets, when it would be no different to the likes of Tolka. I've no doubt it'd be a money spinner at most clubs, and also opens up other income streams such as functions.

The thing about "not within site of the pitch" is the UK law for football only. Doesn't apply to rugby, and never did. Before redevelopment Lansdowne wouldn't let you in with drink even for the Rugby (at the games I was at at least). Now they do - but I guess it's all seater now which could be part of it. Easy enough around it anyway, even in the UK. "I'll have a coke, and a double whiskey, please"

L.T.F.C. get over yourself. It was always Lansdowne, always will be. No matter who sponsors it. Fans aren't bound by the same bs rules as the media. Do you always insist on Flancare Park rather than the Flansiro?
It'll be Flancare Park as long as Flancare continue to sponsor it. Flansiro is a nickname of Flancare park, which I thought was fairly self-explanatory. Regardless, if it wasn't for their sponsorship we wouldn't be as well off as we are. But if someone comes along and sponsors the ground in the next few years, I'll call it whatever.



You can drink in the stands in the USA and Italy, where people go around with drink in a tray for ya, although it is a little expensive and with little choice of drink.
I think i seen somewhere but there is some Irish law against Football Association clubs selling alcohol within view of the pitch although this law does not apply to GAA, Rugby, Cricket, Basketball etc. Cos no GAA fans would be drunk and disorderly at a Leinster final in Football and attack a ref. Only Football Association fans are hooligans.
In the US, they stop selling for the last quarter of NFL, the last twenty mins of a football match, and after the seventh inning of a baseball game.

[Charlie Darwin]

CD I know they operate (rocket lads type operation) at music (and other) gigs in the O2. I think they are covered by the licence operating on the premises so need no additional licence. I suspect the boys in blue (not the Dubs :o ) may take a hard line on the matter (especially in Dublin grounds) under public order provisions. Seem to recall bars were always shut in Croker for footie games and think most still are in Aviva/Lansdowne (as appropriate) except at corporate levels. This most definately not the case for rugger/bogball games.
That's why I figure licensing must be the issue.

[marinobohs]

That's why I figure licensing must be the issue.

Not sure that bar licences (issued by the courts) would differeniate between football matches and those of rugger/bogball ? While there can be specific conditions attached to individual licence(s) I doubt a prohibition on footie games would be one.
More likely "advice" from Gardai and/or club decision not to serve/allow drink near playing area. May have emanated from EUFA ruling for european ties which precludes (I think) serving of drink during the game, possibly extended to domestic games.

[bullit]

let us into it this season too :) Sadly the SEI were stupidly drunk and probably wont be let in again.

Thought the craic with all the Shels fans was great that night and all passed off without any other biz, so can't see yee been locked out from the bars in the near future.What i'm trying to say is hurry up da fk and come back for the sing off that we won :)
Enjoyed it.

[citybone]

It'll be Flancare Park as long as Flancare continue to sponsor it. Flansiro is a nickname of Flancare park, which I thought was fairly self-explanatory. Regardless, if it wasn't for their sponsorship we wouldn't be as well off as we are. But if someone comes along and sponsors the ground in the next few years, I'll call it whatever.

In the US, they stop selling for the last quarter of NFL, the last twenty mins of a football match, and after the seventh inning of a baseball game.

I didn't notice:cool::highfive:

[kdjaC]

So noone actually knows the legal end of it.

[citybone]

I think there is a law against Association football and alcohol within view of the pitch but have nothing to back it up, just thought i heard it before. Id ask my legal friend but he is busy studying in his final Blackhall exams so ill wait until he finish's to ask.

edit: Just asked a different legal friend and he said the law i was thinking of was a British one but the FAI dont allow it. So that's why alcohol is not generally sold in grounds.
Anyone wanna pressure the FAI to change their minds??????
Clubs without bars would still need to apply for a club bar licence which would prob be just beer and wine (no spirits) but that's fine for most