BUDWEISER-FA's MAIN SPONSOR..BUT ALCOHOL IN FOOTBALL STADIUMS?

Current legislation prevents football fans from consuming alcohol on the terraces ('or within sight of the pitch') during matches but allows rugby fans, often in the same venue (Reading and Wigan) for example to do so.

The responsibility for the safety of spectators lies at all times with the ground management.

Risk Assessment In Football Stadiums.

It is a mandatory requirement that management must carry out site-specific risk assessments for all events including any ancillary activities. Risk assessment should not pose a burden but should encourage the formulation of practical and systematic action plans to reduce the level of risk to spectators.

Alcohol In Football Stadiums.

The possession and consumption of alcohol is controlled by current legislation in England and Wales i.e. The Football Licensing Authority (FLA), who have been renamed the 'Sports Ground Safety Authority' the former FLA - that was the body established by section 8 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Football Spectators Act 1989 -and whom by royal assent are responsible for licensing league and international football grounds in England and Wales and for overseeing the control of safety at these grounds by local authorities.

 This Act may be cited as the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Act 2011.

So lets look at this...

SPORTS GROUNDS SAFETY AUTHORITY BILL
BACKGROUND

Safety at sports grounds is regulated by a number of different pieces of legislation and the

Bill’s provisions should be read in that wider context.

The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (“the 1975 Act”) applies to all open-air sports

grounds with accommodation for spectators. Safety controls are imposed primarily through

safety certificates issued by local authorities for sports grounds designated by the Secretary of

State. Currently these comprise grounds with accommodation for over 10,000 spectators

where sports are played (which in practice includes rugby, cricket and other football matches

including internationals); and grounds occupied by Football Association (FA) Premier and

Football League clubs with accommodation for over 5,000 spectators.

Part 3 of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 (“the 1987 Act”) provides for

certification by local authorities of stands which have capacity to accommodate, under cover,

at least 500 spectators at sports grounds not designated under the 1975 Act.

Local authorities are advised to have regard to the technical advice contained in the

Government’s Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, 5

ISBN 0-11-702074,

The FLA was established by the Football Spectators Act 1989 (“the 1989 Act”). It has two

specific statutory functions:

•

for the purpose of watching any designated football match played there. This is

intended to assist in ensuring the reasonable safety and management of spectators at

FA Premiership, Football League and international football grounds in England and

Wales. The FLA’s licensing system is in addition to the general safety certification

duties of local authorities under the 1975 Act.

To operate a licensing system in respect of premises to which spectators are admitted

•

relate to sports grounds in England and Wales at which FA Premiership, Football

League and international matches are played. The FLA can require local authorities to

include conditions in the safety certificates which local authorities issue in relation to

such sports grounds.To keep under review the discharge by local authorities of their duties so far as theyth Edition, The Stationery Office, 2006also known as the Green Guide.

The FLA also produces guidance materials on spectator safety issues and offers advice on

best practice.

At present the FLA’s role is limited to providing specific advice on spectator and venue safety

in relation to football stadia only. Other sports are unable to benefit from the FLA’s expertise

in relation to particular venues or issues. The provisions of the Bill are intended to increase consistency in safety advice in relation to sports grounds other than football grounds. This advice would be generally given on request and not as part of a wider regulatory remit.

The proposed changes will not extend the FLA’s licensing functions or its local authority

oversight duties under the 1989 Act to sports grounds other than football grounds.

TERRITORIAL EXTENT

The Bill extends to England and Wales only, with the qualification that an amendment or

repeal of a provision by Schedule 2 (consequential amendments) or 3 (repeals) has the same

extent as that provision.

Bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland will be able to access the expertise of the new Sports

Grounds Safety Authority on request. Approval of these arrangements has been obtained from

the Scottish Executive and the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland.

The Bill does not trigger the need for a legislative consent motion in relation to Scotland.

COMMENTARY ON CLAUSES

Clauses 2-5: Advisory functions of the Safety Authority.

These clauses give the Safety Authority the power to provide advice about safety at sports

grounds to certain persons or bodies seeking it, including Ministers of the Crown (clause 2),

local authorities (clause 3) and, subject to certain conditions, foreign governments and

international bodies (clause 4). Currently the FLA has no power to do this. Clause 2 also

enables any Minister of the Crown to require the Safety Authority to provide advice about

safety at sports grounds generally and specific advice in relation to the exercise of that

Minister’s functions under the 1975 Act, Part 3 of the 1987 Act and the 1989 Act.

EFFECTS OF THE BILL ON PUBLIC SERVICE MANPOWER

The Bill seeks only to extend the advisory remit of the FLA and will not entail any changes to

the FLA’s current manpower allocation.

http://tinyurl.com/3f2bja2  Sports Grounds Safety Authority Bill - Public Bill Committee
http://tinyurl.com/3lj4jsx    Football Spectators and Sports Grounds Bill

© Parliamentary copyright House of Lords 2011.

If one looks down at "Column number: 6 " one can see that there has been "consultations with the FA, the Premier League and the Football League, who are all in favour of the Bill." So my question is, what does BUDWEISER GET OUT OF THIS SPONSORHIP with the Football Association (FA)?

Unless the legislation is ammended in consultation with the re-named 'Sports Grounds Safety Authority' No BUDWEISER ON TAP OR OTHERWISE AT FOOTBALL STADIA.

Cheers as in catch you later...Not as in 'LIFTING MY ELBOW WITH A BOTTLE OF BUDDIES'  :)


 

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