The Scottish Football Association has announced that Scottish fans will be allowed to drink alcohol in the stands at home matches for the first time in over 40 years. Renfrewshire Council has approved controlled alcohol sales for the Scotland Women's National Team's FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying play-off match against the Czech Republic, which will take place tomorrow evening at St Mirren Football Club's stadium in Paisley.

Similar initiatives have previously been successful at Scotland Men's National Team matches at Hampden Park earlier this year and at other Scottish Professional Football League matches since the start of last season.

At St Mirren Football Club's home ground, alcoholic beverages will be available from kiosks in the West Stand and East Stand, and fans can consume them in their seats. This marks the first time in decades that fans at Scottish professional matches can purchase alcoholic drinks in areas with a view of the pitch.

Alcohol sales will begin when the turnstiles open at 5:45 PM and will continue until 15 minutes after the start of the second half.

Draught beer will be available in the West Stand concourse and the southeast side of the Main Stand, while bottled beer will be offered on the northeast side. All sales will be managed strictly in accordance with licensing regulations, with appropriate security and stewarding measures in place.

The North Stand and South Stand have been designated as alcohol-free zones, and no alcohol consumption will be permitted in these stands. Unlike men's professional football in the UK, women's professional matches are not subject to legislation prohibiting alcohol consumption within sight of the pitch.

This play-off match marks the Scotland Women's National Team's first game in Paisley since 2021, as they continue their bid to qualify for the 2027 World Cup finals in Brazil.

Should they defeat the Czech Republic over two legs, they will face Lithuania or Sweden in a qualifying play-off final in December.

A Scottish FA spokesperson said: "This is another important step forward in our ongoing pilot of controlled alcohol consumption within stadiums."

"For the first time in decades, fans in designated areas of the stadium will be able to consume alcoholic beverages purchased from concourse kiosks in their seats."

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