Wales Rugby Union to Trial Alcohol-Free Zones

An alcohol ban will be put in place in a section of the Principality Stadium for Wales' autumn internationals.

In December, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced that they would be considering alcohol-free zones for Wales games at the Principality.

The zone will be trialed and located in the stadiums north stand. In addition to this, across the Principality there will be a 30% increase in disabled seating for the forthcoming autumn series.

Martyn Phillips, Chief Executive of the WRU, sees these zones as “the way forward” as they offer fans more choices in their viewing experience.

These changes have come following reported abuse of disabled fans during last years Autumn Internationals. Robin Hindle-Fisher was subjected to a tirade of abuse, after asking some drunk fans in front of him to sit down.

Mr. Hindle-Fisher is not an isolated case. There were so many reports about drunken fans made to the police it forced South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael to say: "If we have people continually behaving unpleasantly, aggressively and rudely then you are going to see an increase in the calls for alcohol to be banned."

Wales’ players even waded into the situation by saying that fans causing trouble at the Principality Stadium shouldn’t “bother coming at all”.

The Welsh fans’ consumption of alcohol has led to a perceived drinking culture. It is this drinking culture that has led to calls for bars inside the stadium to be closed during the match.

One person to voice their concern was respected rugby journalist Peter Jackson, citing that there is plenty of time before and after games for fans to be drinking.

Wales’ Autumn Fixtures

• 3^rd November – Wales v Scotland
• 10^th November – Wales v Australia
• 17^th November – Wales v Tonga
• 24^th November – Wales v South Africa