Andy Burnham has called for a review of the long-standing prohibition on alcohol consumption in football stands, contending that the restriction unfairly targets football supporters whilst fans of other sports such as rugby and cricket face no comparable restrictions. He has characterised the ban as a relic of 1980s policy that does not reflect modern attitudes towards football culture and safety.

The proposal has encountered significant resistance from police leadership, who argue that permitting alcohol sales in football stands could heighten the risk of crowd disorder and compromise the safety of supporters, staff, and officers. Burnham, an Everton supporter himself, has suggested the policy could be reformed incrementally rather than through immediate wholesale change.