Booze ban has been a success for Scottish football

Anyone who remembers the violence at the 1980 Scottish Cup Final will be wary of a return to those days.

That game ended with drunken supporters fighting on the Hampden pitch. In the aftermath, alcohol was banned from the terraces.

In the years since, behaviour has improved. The ban, by any measure, has been a resounding success.

So would it really make sense to reverse the policy?

Are we suggesting football supporters can’t abstain from a pint for a mere 90 minutes?

The argument that there is drink available at other sports or in other countries’ grounds fails to address one simple fact: sadly, football attracts the depth of emotion you wouldn’t want to be further fuelled by alcohol.

Yes, boozed-up thugs intent on getting even more drunk are likely to be tiny in number and it’s sad we allow the thoughtless actions of a minority to spoil the enjoyment of the majority. But, having said that, it only takes one or two idiots and the reputation of football is regressed 35 years.

There are various ways the authorities could rejuvenate the spectating experience for fans, including reducing ticket prices, improving facilities and clamping down on vile abuse.

Perhaps they should look at those first before ending something that has actually proven to be very effective.