Up to the mid 1980's you could drink whilst watching the game in football grounds in England however with increased violence at matches, the then Government brought in draconian measures to combat it, including a drinking ban.
After a series of high profile riots at football matches in England in the early to mid 1980's, including one after Everton scored a late goal at Highbury in the 1984 FA Cup semi final, that saw thousands of fans fighting a pitch battle for half an hour on the pitch after the game and police horses galloping around the Government decided to take action.
Alcohol was deemed to be the root cause of the problem and so one of the laws introduced was a ban on alcohol in football stadiums.
As things calmed down in the latter part of the decade and into the 1990's, drinking was allowed back in stadiums, but only in the concourses and you were not allowed to drink in view of the pitch.
Slightly bizarre given you could have a drink in the pub 20 yards from the ground or in the concourse under the stand but it was if they powers that be thought the sight of a football pitch would trigger some violent reaction.
Now some 40 year after the initial ban, the introduction of safe standing has reopened the debate about being allowed to watch your team from the stands sipping a beer or glass of wine.
You can actually do this at levels in non league up to the National Leagues, but not above.
Now there is a new pilot programme in the first steps to reintroduce being able to watch football matches whilst having a drink, initially this will be done at Woman's football matches, but going forward the hope is that drinking in the stands can once again happen in the stands at matches at the highest level.
Southampton FC have had this to say about the pilot programme:
"The club is pleased to announce that the club has been selected to take part in a new pilot programme that will give fans the choice to drink alcohol in the stadium bowl at selected Barclays Women’s Championship games this season.
"The trial is being led by the newly set up and independent Women’s Professional League Limited (WPLL). Since taking over responsibility of the top two tiers of women’s football in the UK, WPLL are actively looking at different way to improve the matchday experience for fans.
"In this groundbreaking trial, fans will be offered the choice of alcohol at four selected Southampton FC Women’s home games as follows:
Sunday 19th January (Sunderland Women)
Sunday 2nd February (Newcastle Women)
Friday 18th April (London City Lionesses)
Sunday 4th May (Charlton Athletic Women)
"Currently, football fans cannot drink alcohol in view of the pitch at matches in the BWSL and BWC due to the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 - it applies to matches in the top five tiers of men's football and has since been reflected in the Football Association (FA) regulations and adopted during the rise of women's football.
"However, as the WPLL is now fully independent of the Football Association (the FA), it can make changes to the structure of the league, invest in new technology, and implement rule changes without FA oversight.
"The trial seeks to understand whether giving fans the choice to drink alcohol in the bowl adds to the fan experience, whilst maintaining safety and being responsible.
"Three other clubs have been selected to be involved alongside Southampton, with Bristol City, Newcastle United and Birmingham City also involved in the pilot.