Alcohol, if you’re rich enough

953

As you and I know, alcohol is sold at football games.  If you are in a corporate seat, you can drink before kick-off, at halftime and again at fulltime.  Prohibition only applies to the cheap seats.

Alcohol-related issues remain a problem in towns across Scotland in the hours after big games, but suggestions by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, that there is a potential correlation between those drinking from cheap seats at games and violence (including the domestic kind) are simply unfounded.  People are free to get tanked up before and after games, the wealthy can do so during games, and millions can do so in pubs and at home while watching games on TV.

I have some concerns about reintroducing alcohol for the rest of us.  Alcohol requires appropriate infrastructure and ambiance – like there is at the Kerrydale Suite, for example.  The North Stand Upper, where I sit, does not have the space, supervision capabilities, or even the toilets to become an appropriate venue to encourage the consumption of any more fluids.  In the 20 years it’s been up, it’s never had enough paper towels to make it to halftime, and may God go with you, if you need to spend a longer visit, but don’t let that be a reason to stop the rest of you.

Modern football stadiums have many safe areas where alcohol can be consumed.  Those who cannot handle their drink, would find themselves supervised to within an inch of a football banning order. Scotland needs to learn what a healthy attitude to alcohol looks like – check out the Kerrydale Suite for a glimpse.

Build the lounges, toilets, and grills.  Put carpet down, dress stewards in black ties, have them welcome fans as “Sir” or “Madam”, treat football fans like responsible adults.  It works in the hospitality areas and in the Kerrydale Suite, it’ll work from Palmerston to Peterhead.

Thank you for the tremendous response yesterday to the line-up for the CQN11 St Patrick’s Dinner.  We have (St) Packy Bonnar, Tommy Coyne and Joe Miller for a Q&A, an unmissable address on Jock Stein by Archie Macpherson, and Celtic’s First Lady of Song, Patricia Ferns, for those of you who enjoy a song or dance.  Let me know if you’re still looking for tickets,
celticquicknews@gmail.com

And Celtic, how hard can it be to put enough paper towels in the toilets? I love the family approach the club has now, but bringing kids means dealing with the toilets, and that’s never a highlight of the trip.

Keep your eye on CQN Magazine site, as we’re changing how the magazine content is delivered.

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953 Comments

  1. @Grangehotels where one of the EGMS’s was to be held tweeted this earlier but has since been deleted

     

     

    :-

     

    “Jelly and ice cream is off the menu at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel on 4th March, 2015. #EGM #RangersEGM”

  2. auldheid 1015

     

    Many thanks, keep on keeping on – for all of us who will be eternally grateful.

     

    HH

  3. Sat 28th July 2012

     

    Pre Season Friendly

     

    Celtic 1

     

    Kris Commons 41min

     

    Inter Milan 1

     

    Rodrigo Palacio 88min

     

    Celtic

     

    Fraser Forster,Adam Matthews,Emilio Izaguirre,

     

    Georgios Samaras(Dylan McGeouch 73min)

     

    Anthony Stokes(Mohamed Bangura 36min)

     

    Kris Commons,

     

    Joe Ledley(Pat McCourt 66min)

     

    Charlie Mulgrew,

     

    Mikael Lustig(Jackson Irvine 66min)

     

    Victor Wanyama,

     

    Gary Hooper(Filip Twardzik 66min).

     

    Inter Milan

     

    Samir Handanovic,Javier Zanetti,

     

    Wesley Sneijder(Marko Livaja 76min)

     

    Fredy Guarin,Esteban Cambiasso,

     

    Diego Milito,Andrea Ranocchia,Cristian Chivu,

     

    Phillippe Coutinho(Rodrigo Palacio 52min)

     

    Jonathan(Yuto Nagatomo ht)

     

    Matias Silvestre(Gaby Mudingayi 52min).

  4. MickTT

     

     

    Survey completed. Good luck to your lad In his ambition to be PM. Etonian is he, what, what?

     

     

    Jimbo67

  5. midfield maestro

     

     

    Condolences to you and your family.

     

     

    My own father passed away 24 years ago , he was like a father, grandfather ,best friend and work colleague rolled in to one . He would have been looking forward to tomorrow’s game that’s for sure.

  6. To all those on here who have lost their fathers, myself included, I know they will all be looking in on Thursday night.

     

     

    God bless them all.

     

     

    HH!!

  7. Well, that’s me got my ticket for the League Cup Final. But I couldn’t do it on the web. I kept getting offered more and more tickets and couldn’t assign them. I had to phoner the Ticket Office, which, of course, cost a wee fortune but at least I’ve got a ticket.

  8. Tom McLaughlin

     

    19:05 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    Stephbhoy –

     

     

    Celtic went public and criticised the council’s refusal to even consider their request. Celtic asked for a review but were refused.

     

    —————————————————————————————————————–

     

     

    This is blatantly untrue !

     

     

    The last mover on this matter was Hepburn – the SNP minister for Sport and Mental.

     

    Health.

     

     

    The Scottish executive have called this in and taken it out of the hands of Glasgow Council.

     

     

    Google Hepburn’s statement on the matter – read it – then stop posting a load of tosh on this subject.

  9. Tom McLaughlin

     

    19:05 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    ——————————————————–

     

     

    There Tom – I have done it for you:

     

     

     

    Regarding the safe standing application of Celtic FC, Mr Hepburn continued:

     

     

    “…my office is currently arranging a meeting with the club to discuss this further with Police Scotland. This will provide me with the opportunity to better understand the views of the club and consider how to support clubs and local authorities in deciding how the safety of fans can be protected in the future”

     

     

    Are you satisfied?

  10. The centralising control-freakery of SNP Holyrood can be no better illustrated than in their stranglehold over the issues of blatant class discrimination in the sale of alcohol at major events and the ‘calling-in’ of the safe-standing certification at Celtic Park, taking it out of the hands of the locally elected authority, who have the legal right to issue safety certification on such matters.

  11. Thank you again gentlemen, he is of course only 15 and unable to buy alcohol along with the fact he is a Roman Catholic and also unable to be Prime Minister.

     

    But ye never know…!

     

     

    Ayrshire is Green and White

  12. West End of East End on

    Alfie Noakes – I’ve just googled like you demanded and came up with this from December 15th 2014.

     

     

    Local MP Charles Kennedy has kept up the pressure in his bid to allow football clubs in the top divisions introduce safe standing areas into their grounds.

     

     

    Liberal Democrats announced in August their manifesto plans to allow football clubs across England and Wales to work with their supporters to introduce standing areas. Safe standing already operates in domestic leagues across Europe, including Germany, Austria and Sweden and is backed by 92% of football fans and 70% of UK football clubs.

     

     

    The Scottish Football Association gave the green light to safe-standing in December 2011. However, in August Celtic FC had their application rejected by Glasgow City Council. Confusion has arisen as the Safety Advisory Group, chaired by Glasgow City Council, stated safe-standing matters may be a matter for the Scottish Government and not the local authority.

     

     

    Charles Kennedy wrote to the Scottish Government Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, Jamie Hepburn MSP, calling for the Scottish Government to clarify the position.

     

     

    Responding to Mr Kennedy’s letter, Jamie Hepburn MSP said:

     

     

    “The Scottish Government position remains that under the current arrangements it is for local authorities to ensure that stadia within their areas offer safe accommodation for supporters when granting Safety Certificates in accordance with the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.

     

     

    I can therefore confirm that under the approval of any application for standing in a football ground lies with the relevant local authority.”

     

     

    Regarding the safe standing application of Celtic FC, Mr Hepburn continued:

     

     

    “…my office is currently arranging a meeting with the club to discuss this further with Police Scotland. This will provide me with the opportunity to better understand the views of the club and consider how to support clubs and local authorities in deciding how the safety of fans can be protected in the future”

     

     

    Can you point me to the tosh ?

  13. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    alfie noakes

     

     

    11:00 on 18 February, 2015

     

     

    …….and the Glasgow Celtic will be there…..

  14. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Paul67,

     

     

    …and God go with you, too ….hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    ALFIE NOAKES

     

     

    Nae offence,mate. Others think you’re a plant,I actually believe you are a genuine poster,passionate about The Labour Party and its place in our wider society.

     

     

    Indeed,your passion shames my passivity.

     

     

    However,you’re rapidly turning into a Labour version of Sarah Palin. Well-meaning,focussed-and a gift to the opposition.

     

     

    I honestly don’t know how you manage to annoy even those who support,in the main,the same views as yourself. A rare talent,which should be hid under a bushel.

     

     

    IMO,of course.

  16. Alfie Noakes

     

    10:48 on

     

    18 February, 2015

     

     

    Even your own quote makes it clear that it’s a matter for the clubs (Celtic in this case) and the local authorities (GCC) to sort out. Unless you interpret his use of “support” as “I’m taking charge here”. I’m not sure why you might make that interpretation.

     

     

    All he’s doing is meeting the parties to try and understand where the issue is. I suspect if Police Scotland can’t come in with a very clear reason why this should be opposed he’ll be asking GCC what their problem is and suggesting it get’s approved.

  17. sean thornton

     

    09:27 on

     

    18 February, 2015

     

    =========================

     

    Great news about your brother.

  18. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SEAN THORNTON

     

     

    Yer bro is a Tim. Of course he’s gonna be there. Give him a huge big congratulatory pint fae me!

  19. West End of East End

     

    —————————————————————————————————-

     

     

    Glasgow Council had to reject it when it was ‘called-in’ by the Scottish executive – it was therefore taken out of Glasgow’s hands.

     

     

    Celtic had been involved for over eighteen months with GC – Peter Lawwell was “very surprised” at the turn of events, as Holyrood had had no input during all of those eighteen months.

     

     

    Hepburn then goes on to comment particularly on the Celtic application,

     

     

    So the ‘tosh’ is in blaming Glasgow Council for rejecting the certificate, when it had no option after the SNP called it in.