Sir Mark Rowley has come out against plans to allow football supporters to drink while watching matches reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter
Proposals to allow football fans to drink alcohol in the stands should be thought about “really carefully” due to concerns around violence and drug abuse, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has said.
Laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within view of a football pitch were introduced in 1985, with then-Home Secretary Leon Brittan suggesting that alcohol was a “major contributory factor in violent and disorderly behaviour” in grounds.
However, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has recently hinted at changing the rules, claiming in September that “there is a case to remove that discrimination” and that the current “legislation dates to an era where football was very different.”
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has come out strongly against any mooted changes, telling the London Assembly that officers were concerned about increased violence and drugs.
“I wish the culture at football matches was the same as it is at other sporting events – it’s not,” he told assembly members on Thursday.
“We still see violence at football matches. We still see challenges.
“Any step back at loosening the regulations would have to be really carefully thought about. I’m worried about the violence we still see at matches. I’m worried about the drugs we see at matches. So I’d be very cautious about it.”
The mayor was also asked about his view on the issue, but said he would provide a written response in due course.
Liberal Democrat assembly member Gareth Roberts, who questioned the pair on the issue, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) afterwards: “When the Met Commissioner expresses serious concerns about lifting the football drinking ban, the Prime Minister should listen.
“Instead, he’s playing to the stands while ignoring the officers on the front line. After years of relentless police cuts, the last thing our police force needs is a Government making their jobs even harder.”
A Home Office source said: “The Government does not have any imminent plans to amend the law preventing drinking alcohol within view of the pitch at designated football matches. We continue to keep alcohol controls under review, taking into account football disorder issues and trends.”
Rowley was also asked about the general cost of policing football matches in London.
Last year he revealed that operations across all games in England and Wales cost around £70million – but analysis from the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) found that clubs themselves only reimbursed a fraction of those costs, with the taxpayer picking up the remaining bill.
There are 14 professional football clubs in London, including reigning Premier League champions Arsenal, creating a disproportionate burden on the Met. Recent data shows that in 2023/24, operations at matches cost more than £23million, with just over £2million reimbursed.
In 2023, the Mayor of London said that the extensive bills “reflect the increased risk of crime, disorder and ASB, and the MPS response to the recommendations in the December 2021 Baroness Casey report into the Euro 2020 final disorder in July 2021.”
Rowley told the London Assembly that they were “still looking to government to regulate so that the polluter pays, frankly.”
He added: “It’s a big amount of police resources that are going to police football matches – I would like to see that fully reimbursed. And I know the government’s considering it.”
The Mayor of London added: “I’ve supported the Commissioner in terms of tweaking that could lead to additional resources for London. We’re hopeful we can get further support in relation to this important issue.”
In October 2025, the policing minister, Sarah Jones, confirmed that the government was “concerned that the cost of policing football matches that is currently falling to the public purse is too high” and ministers were “exploring ways to address this”:
The Department for Media, Culture and Sport were also contacted for comment.
Local news needs your support
We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
ACT NOW!
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly
More Information about donations
Enjoying Barnet Post? You can help support our not-for-profit newspaper and news website from £5 per month.