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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  1. Hamiltontim

     

     

    Yes, seems very strange

     

     

    Just had a reply from the TO who will look into it. I just hope its an error and I will get a ticket

     

     

    HH

  2. leftclicktic

     

    17:15 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    lionroars67

     

    :))))))))))))))))))

     

     

    Catch up at the corner on Thursday mate

     

     

    PeteTheBeat

     

    17:16 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

     

    Thanks bud looking forward to seeing Selma

  3. traditionalist88 on

    Catman

     

    17:20 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    Hamiltontim

     

     

    Yes, seems very strange

     

     

    Just had a reply from the TO who will look into it. I just hope its an error and I will get a ticket

     

     

    HH

     

    ======

     

     

     

    Did you leave early in any of the previous rounds? Maybe they are watching us more closely than we ever imagined;)

     

     

    Only joking bud hope you get sorted:)

     

     

    HH

  4. The Rangers International FC EGM will be held in Jim Murphy’s house. There will be a strict ban on alcohol which will not be served in plastic containers but single fish (not on a Friday) and stovies will be readily available.

     

     

    END OF STATEMENT.

  5. Fholk who do invest in a more expensive season ticket do not solely do it for access to alcohol at half time or otherwise. I spend a fair amount on a season ticket for the other benefits it brings. The fholk who normally frequent the lounges rarely,if ever ,imbibe to the extreme however on the occassions that you do observe those the worse for wear are the daytrippers and those who are only there once or twice a season

  6. traditionalist88

     

     

    Thanks pal I hope so. Never leave early think of all the goals I could have missed over the last 40 odd years of going to CP

     

     

    HH

  7. Love this tweet from the latest hotel to walk away

     

     

     

    Grange Hotels ‏@GrangeHotels

     

     

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

  8. Hamiltontim

     

    17:29 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    The Rangers International FC EGM will be held in Jim Murphy’s house. There will be a strict ban on alcohol which will not be served in plastic containers but single fish (not on a Friday) and stovies will be readily available.

     

     

    END OF STATEMENT.

     

     

    Aye all well and good, but there are so many Jim Murphys…. how will the sevconians know which hoose to go to ))))

  9. traditionalist88 on

    Catman

     

     

    Sounds like an error alright, I’m sure our allocation is bigger for the final than it was for the semi final as well so all the stranger you didnt get one – sure you will get sorted.

     

     

    HH

  10. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on

    Alas no Cup final tickets for me and my weans – must have done something wrong after all these years!!

     

     

    C’est La Vie.

     

     

    By the way, a comment on Paul’s article re booze and all that.

     

     

    With no disrespect to Fergus the toilet provision at Celtic park meets the bare minimum standards for passing the requirements of the department of Environmental Health.

     

     

    Yes they pass, but football fans have always been treated disgracefully when it comes to bathroom facilities and to be honest in the past they were treated like cattle.

     

     

    Today, we are a little better than cattle but not by much.

     

     

    Women in particular used to have to suffer disgraceful conditions when wanting to use the bathroom at Celtic Park and while I have no idea how good or bad the ladies facilities are at present, if they are to be judged by the standard of the gents toilets then they will be ok at best.

     

     

    If football clubs want their stadia to be full every week they should recognise that many mothers, aunts, sisters and granny’s would take kids to watch football if the surroundings were a little more female friendly.

     

     

    No doubt the lounges and the “posh” parts offer a little more comfort but at the end of the day an arse is an arse and they all serve a clinical bodily purpose preferably in some comfortable and reasonably private surroundings.

     

     

    Or to put it another way, an investment in some decent stalls, medium range lavvy seats and cisterns, a few pleasant tiles, some partitioning, and some humanising of the latrine would be far cheaper than blowing your cash on Mo Bangura and would provide a far longer lasting return for every penny spent if you pardon the pun.

     

     

    But then again we are talking football clubs rather than businesses who seek to attract returning customers ……………

  11. wycombebhoy

     

     

    Ha ha just seen that, brilliant!!!!

     

     

    Lionroars67

     

     

    It’s fine, they all have red lights in the window :-)

  12. Catman 16.52

     

    So having been at the early rounds of the League Cup against Hearts and Partick Thistle where there were around 15,000 at both games I log on today to be told I don’t qualify for a ticket for the Final.

     

     

    The people in the ticket office do look at previous attendance.

     

     

    I went in for 5 ST holders and got two tickets as the guy checked our attendance records on the PC.

     

    Two of us had been to every game, the other 3, sadly, had not.

     

     

    Result two tickets.

     

     

    Must say I would commend the club’s record keeping, ( as it suits me).

     

     

    EC67

  13. Tricoloured Ribbon on

    The glib and shameless liar definitely has the capacity to oust Ashley.

     

    He wouldn’t be calling an EGM if he didn’t think he could do so.

     

    What happens then? Ashley will put them in administration?

  14. Hamiltontim

     

    17:36 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    wycombebhoy

     

     

    Lionroars67

     

     

    It’s fine, they all have red lights in the window :-)

     

     

    HT you meant Red hands in the window ;-)

  15. BREAKING NEWS

     

     

    Loan Ranger Haris Vuckic has briefed the Inter Milan manager on what to expect at Celtic Park on Thursday.

     

     

    “Aye, Celtic are no’ bad like, but it’s kinda hard to judge them as they had the game won after 20 minutes!. You’ve probably got a 50/50 chance. You’re lucky that you’re no’ playing Alloa or Hibs mind – you’d have no chance!”.

  16. Catman,

     

     

    Meant to add, if you have been to the previous ties then I am sure you will get a ticket for the final.

     

    Clerical error possibly!

     

     

    EC67

  17. Hamiltontim.

     

    I haven’t been offered a ticket so it doesn’t really apply to me mate.

     

    Did i see you post that you occasionally travel on the Abronhill bus to away games.

  18. Phoned about tickets today….

     

     

    Press 1 for customer services

     

    Press 2 for online sales

     

    For all other ticket enquiries press Hamiltontim.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  19. lynott67

     

     

    My own bus is Spirit of Freedom CSC from Calton but for most of the last year and a bit I’ve travelled on the Cumbernauld No1 to away games mate.

  20. sunny calmachie on

    Glendalystonsils,

     

     

    Great Eastern hotel is now lovely wee flats, I think they call it Collegelands. ..

  21. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    mickbhoy1888

     

    17:30 on

     

    17 February, 2015

     

    Fholk who do invest in a more expensive season ticket do not solely do it for access to alcohol at half time or otherwise. I spend a fair amount on a season ticket for the other benefits it brings. The fholk who normally frequent the lounges rarely,if ever ,imbibe to the extreme however on the occassions that you do observe those the worse for wear are the daytrippers and those who are only there once or twice a season

     

     

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

     

     

    Still it gives someone the opportunity to fleece them later on……….

  22. saltires en sevilla on

    Tricolour

     

     

    Sense MA wills have to push the Admin button or risk being Kinged in the baws

     

     

    Weeminger

     

     

    Yes agree -has to be fairly soon or what would be the point?

  23. jamesgang

     

     

    Aye very good ya big rocket :-)

     

     

    I have some Celtic v Dun Utd Scottish Cup Final 1988 tickets available at a crackin’ price!!

  24. Evening Timland from a cold and damp hun free mountain valley.

     

     

    Midfield Maestro

     

     

    Sad news about your Da, may he RIP.

     

     

    HH

     

    YNWA

     

    ………………………………………………………………….

     

     

    Drink, the devils brew :)

     

     

    Just say no…..

     

     

    By the way, read the posts about drink at the footy.

     

     

    I reckon praeceptas suggestion re gazebos is the best I have read so far.

     

     

    HH

  25. The Battered Bunnet on

    As one of Eurochamp’s unlucky 3 – actually, technically I’m all three of them – can’t commend ole EC67 highly enough for his sterling ticket collection service, albeit ultimately in vain as none of our 3 season books were allocated cup final tickets. Clerical error…

     

     

    Thanks chap.

     

     

    Half of our home league games have been Sunday or Wednesday reschedules, and we’ve missed them all because of prior commitments: Work in midweek, coaching on a Sunday.

     

     

    Reckon we should get comp tickets for the cup final for being faithful enough to continue to buy a season ticket despite knowing that half the games will be rescheduled to an inopportune date.

  26. Jimbo67@16.23

     

    Understand completely. I was just hoping that you wouldn’t be offended by me commending Philbhoy. It is a very personal matter but I believe that the more that are prepared to talk about their experiences the less stigma that will be attached to the whole area of mental health.

     

    Wishing you everything you would wish for yourself Jimbo67. HH

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