After more than four decades of prohibition, Aberdeen Football Club is set to make Scottish football history by trialing alcohol sales at Pittodrie Stadium during their Scottish Premiership clash with Kilmarnock on December 14, 2025. The move, approved by Aberdeen City Council, marks the first time in 44 years that fans at a Premiership match will be able to purchase alcoholic drinks inside the stadium—albeit under tightly controlled circumstances.
The initiative, part of a broader pilot scheme across Scottish football, is designed to explore how alcohol can be safely and responsibly incorporated into the matchday experience. Home supporters will be able to buy alcoholic beverages in the lower concourse of the Richard Donald Stand before kick-off. However, the rules are crystal clear: consumption of alcohol within sight of the pitch is strictly prohibited, and all sales must cease before the first whistle blows.
Aberdeen’s move comes with a heavy dose of caution and meticulous planning. The club has emphasized that all sales will be managed in full accordance with licensing laws, with robust security and stewarding protocols in place. In a statement, a club spokesperson said, “Sales will be managed in full accordance with licensing laws, with appropriate security and stewarding in place. Supporters are reminded that alcohol may only be consumed within clearly designated areas and not in sight of the pitch, and all sales will take place in clearly defined, monitored areas of the stadium. Matchday operations, stewarding and safety planning will remain consistent with our usual high standards.”
This pilot is not just about selling drinks—it’s about gathering valuable insight. Aberdeen hopes to demonstrate that a carefully managed approach to alcohol sales can support a positive and safe matchday experience for supporters. The club stated, “The aim of the initiative is to gather insight into how a carefully managed approach to alcohol sales can support a positive and safe matchday experience for supporters, as part of wider work taking place across Scottish football to improve fan engagement and enhance the overall stadium environment.”
For many, this trial represents a significant cultural shift. Alcohol has been banned in Scottish football stadiums since 1980, following a notorious riot between Rangers and Celtic fans during the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park. The ban was later codified in 1981 and has remained in place ever since, making Scottish football one of the strictest sporting environments in Europe when it comes to alcohol consumption. The only exception has been hospitality sections within stadiums, where drinking has always been permitted under controlled conditions.
But why now? The conversation around alcohol at football matches has evolved in recent years, with fans and clubs alike debating whether the time has come for a more modern approach. Rugby fans, for example, are allowed to drink in their seats during matches, and many football supporters have argued that they should be subject to the same rules. The Scottish government and Police Scotland even considered lifting the ban in March 2025, though their official position remains unchanged for now.
Aberdeen’s trial is part of a coordinated effort across multiple clubs and competitions. Championship side St Johnstone will also be running similar pilots at McDiarmid Park during their matches against Queen’s Park on November 15 and Greenock Morton on December 20. At McDiarmid Park, both home and away fans will be able to purchase alcohol from a pop-up bar at the rear of the East Stand prior to kick-off, with sales open between 14:00 and 14:45 and again during half time. As at Pittodrie, drinks cannot be consumed within view of the pitch, and operations are tightly monitored.
These latest trials follow earlier experiments during the 2025 season at League Cup and Premier Sports Cup matches involving Arbroath, Ayr United, Queen of the South, and Stirling Albion. Each of these pilots has been closely scrutinized by local licensing authorities and Police Scotland, who are responsible for ensuring that all activities comply with current legislative frameworks.
The Scottish Government, for its part, has reiterated its cautious stance. A spokesperson said, “Our position on alcohol sales at Scottish football grounds has not changed. It is for local licencing authorities and Police Scotland to satisfy themselves that the pilot projects are permissible within the current legislative framework when granting licences.” Their message is clear: while there is room for innovation, safety and compliance remain paramount.
For Aberdeen, the upcoming match against Kilmarnock is more than just another fixture—it’s a test case. The club has been careful to communicate with supporters about the rules and expectations. “We hope this will add to the enjoyment of the matchday experience for supporters and would like to pass on our thanks to fans for their continued support and cooperation. We’ll provide further information closer to the match,” the club said in its official statement.
Fans have responded with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Some see the move as a long-overdue modernization, while others remain wary, recalling the events that led to the original ban. The memory of the 1980 Scottish Cup final riot still casts a long shadow, serving as a cautionary tale for all involved. Yet, the majority seem to agree that if any club can pull off a safe and sensible trial, it’s Aberdeen, known for their high standards in matchday operations and fan engagement.
As the date approaches, all eyes will be on Pittodrie. Will the pilot run smoothly, setting a precedent for other Premiership clubs to follow? Or will concerns over safety and crowd management prompt a return to the status quo? One thing’s for sure—this isn’t just about beer; it’s about the future of Scottish football’s relationship with its fans.
With similar pilots underway and growing calls for parity with other sports, the outcome of Aberdeen’s experiment could have far-reaching implications. For now, the Scottish football community waits to see whether a carefully managed approach can finally bring a responsible pint back to the terraces, 44 years after the taps were first turned off.
As Aberdeen prepares for their historic trial, the club’s commitment to safety, compliance, and fan enjoyment stands front and center. Supporters can expect clear guidelines, robust security, and a matchday experience that balances tradition with progress. The coming weeks will reveal whether this bold step signals a new era for Scottish football—or simply another chapter in its ongoing debate over alcohol and the beautiful game.
