A pilot scheme to trial the impact of drink in Scottish football grounds resulted in no incidents of alcohol related disorder amongst supporters.
The sale of alcohol at matches has been banned since violence flared in the aftermath of the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers.
Clubs applied for temporary licenses to sell drink at 20 matches on a controlled basis across the William Hill Premiership, William Hill Championship, and Premier Sports Cup last season.
Aberdeen, Motherwell, St Mirren, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Stirling Albion, Arbroath and Queen of the South took part in a pilot scheme while two Scotland friendlies at Hampden before the World Cup finals were part of a wider push to improve the matchday experience for football fans in Scotland.
Figures secured by Herald Sport show that 200,000 fans attended those games, with 96,938 attending SPFL matches. The Scotland games against Japan and Curacao elevated the total to 186,015 supporters taking part, with zero recorded incidents at all of misbehaviour relating to alcohol in the stands.
The sale of alcohol at football remains a sensitive and divisive subject. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticised current restrictions on drinking at games in England last month. And arguments for the relaxation of rules on booze sales in Scottish grounds have been challenged by those who cite scenes of disorder such as those at the recent Scottish Cup quarter-final between Celtic and Rangers as a reason to retain strict controls.
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Clubs believe that the sale of alcohol to fans at low-risk fixtures, in controlled conditions, will improve both the fan experience and their fragile finances.
Aberdeen are the first Scottish Premiership club to be granted a permanent alcohol licence by the city council for matches at Pittodrie after taking part in two trials last season. A first for a top-flight club, a licence has now been granted for the Richard Donald Stand Lower concourse area, with Dundee submitting plans to follow suit.
Under the terms of the licence, supporters will be able to purchase alcoholic drinks until 30 minutes before kick-off, but will only do so in designated concourse areas and not in sight of the pitch.
A source close to the project said: "Clubs, the SPFL and the SFA are keenly aware of the need to develop this project in a sensitive, responsible manner.
"Clubs and the SPFL have gone to great lengths to work with the licensing boards and supporters' groups to ensure this has been a success.
"There have been lessons learned along the way, but the initial phase has been really encouraging."
