New moves to end Murrayfield alcohol ban
The booze ban at Murrayfield rugby stadium in Edinburgh faces a new challenge.
A number of politicians, including MSPs and Edinburgh councillors, are pushing for sports minister Frank McAveety to lift the ban preventing fans from buying a pint during matches.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association opposes lifting the ban, insisting Edinbugh has enough licensed premises, and claiming it would hit trade at pubs in the area on match days.
However, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) has been rallying support in high places. The SRU believes it has lost out on hosting lucrative international tournaments to other UK venues, such as Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Murrayfield is the only Six Nations venue not to serve alcohol.
The ban dates back to 1980, when Murrayfield opted into a policy drawn up to cover all Scottish football stadiums in the wake of violence at a Scottish Cup Final football match between Celtic and Rangers.
Opponents point out that Mr McAveety has lifted the ban for pop concerts and other sporting events at Murrayfield, but not for rugby internationals.
An SRU spokesman said: "Supporters coming to Murrayfield are very well behaved. We don't have crowd segregation like football because we don't have crowd trouble. And we should not be disadvantaged in comparison with other grounds, where people can enjoy a drink if they choose."
