Something that is harming the Oakwell atmosphere

The alcohol ban in England is pathetic.

Who turns into an animal after drinking one 4.5% lager in their seat?

I can have 4 pints and its barely touched the sides.

How does it stop the minority who wanna get absolutely off their face anyway?

The bramahs opens at 8am.

You could have 6 and half hours drinking hard booze, stumble down to Oakwell in 10 minutes and down a pint in the concourse.

Its allowed in Germany, Denmark, Netherlands.

Its allowed in world cup fan parks with 5,000 people.

All it does is make the whole experience less enjoyable for the masses.

Makes people less jovial and up for a sing song.

Miserable *******

 

So you are saying that nobody sings because they don't have a pint in their hand while watching the game?

What about the hundreds of fans who will have been out drinking before the game? Does that alcohol not make them jovial?

 

At the World Cup in 2018 you could drink in your seat. It led to a lot of beer being spilt and your feet getting soaked. Not fun. Conversely, at the two euros I've been to, 2012 and 2020, there was no alcohol on sale in the stadiums at all. Genuinely can't say I noticed a huge difference in atmosphere. Granted, the best game I've ever been to in terms of the experience was Argentina v Nigeria when Argentina had to win to progress. It was absolutely electric, but that was nothing to do with people being able to booze. It was because there were 50,000 Argentineans inside the stadium who had turned St Petersburg into Buenos Aires for the night. The semi final against Croatia was also very intense as you'd expect, but it would have been even better if England's sizeable knobhead element had been sober. Pay thousands for your ticket and transport, fly several hours to see your team in the World Cup semi final for the first time in over a quarter of a century, get so bladdered you can't remember any of it, then start insulting anyone who isn't English at the end of the match. Genius behaviour.

 

So you've plenty of chance to get a drink then?Not sure it's something I miss to be honest.

 

The person you describe spending six plus hours in Bramah's would most likely be committing an offence under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985 if attempting to enter Oakwell. As to your general point, there is quite enough boisterous behaviour as it stands without folk swilling ale on the terraces. So a 'no' from me.

 

If a law change was ever introduced, I hope it would be for home fans only.

Away fans (of whatever club) get a little bit giddy.

 

If the alcohol barely touches the sides and doesn't change behaviour, then it can't have much impact on the atmosphere, can it? It can't go both ways.

 

Drinking while watching the game works well at non-league games where you're stood up with loads of space.

Would I want someone drinking a pint who is sat directly behind me in the East Upper knowing that if they spilled it, the whole lot would come pouring over my head?

No, I wouldn't.

I don't think banning alcohol in sight of the pitch provides any increased safety with the exception of preventing someone getting a thump after covering someone in beer.

I do, however, believe that in most stands, where seats are way too close together, that a drinks ban provides much better conditions for those sitting in it.

Think it's pointless in some areas of Oakwell though, like the corner stand and hospitality areas, where you have to go behind the curtain to have a drink. That's just treating people like children.

 

In fairness, I don't think that's exclusive to our younger fan base.

 

What is ruining the atmosphere at Oakwell is this attitude of "I will only sing if the team are playing entertaining football".

If being 3 nil up and 3rd in the league can't get you singing then nothing will.

 

I think it's more than that. Best atmosphere this season has been when we were 3-0 down to Portsmouth and were going at them.

I'm right behind this team and manager, I think we're going to do well and be successful. But I do concede that there haven't been many rousing games at Oakwell. There are plenty of valid reasons for that, but it's a fact.

When our performances (as opposed to just the results) improve, and when we have some ding-dong battles, the atmosphere will improve too.

PS - After the initial flurry of victories, there were some pretty drab affairs at Oakwell in the Promotion season to the Premier League. We went 6 games without a victory at Oakwell losing 3-1 twice with a draw against Gillingham in the cup sandwiched between. We then had 3 consecutive draws. The 0-0s against Palace and particularly Oxford in the fog were flat as a pancake in terms of both performances on the pitch and the atmosphere. The final game of this run was 2-2 against Bolton. The match and the atmosphere were electric and that remained the case for the next couple of years more or less.

 

It's as though they don't give a toss about the football. Their sole goal for the day is get pissed and smash up some seats / toilets / concourse of the opposition. All in the name of "banter". Cretins!

 

I`ve lost count at Headingly and Old Trafford (cricket) where someone has put their beer on the ground and then knocked it over and whoever is in front has the rest of the day to contend with slopping around in someone elses mess - even worse if you`ve got a bag on the floor.​

 

On a nice hot day, it would be nice to be allowed up in the stands with a beer. Perhaps one of those plastic bottles - rather than pint - to mitigate the spillage issue.

 

What about having an alcoholics section

 

Last season, I actually enjoyed the atmosphere at home to Fleetwood. The refereeing performance was particularly poor, which I think got the crowd on the players side. Robbie Cundy headed home the winner to a chorus of 'you don't know what you're doing'.

There are people on here though who have said they won't sing unless there's something worth singing about. Tuesday night was a drab affair, there's no getting away from it. But we were managing the game from the 2nd goal onwards. We were happy to try and control possession, not take too many risks and see out a comfortable victory. I get it's not always good to watch, but it's how we'll get through a lot of games this season against weaker opposition. I expect tomorrow to be the same.

 

Called "The Joseph Brammah"