Drinking at football matches - would fans welcome it?

The law permits supporters at stadiums from the Premier League to National League to drink alcohol outside the ground and in concourses, but not in their seats

When UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham embarked on his trip to the United Nations in New York, he might not have been expecting a question about football fans drinking alcohol in grounds.

It's a position the Everton supporter has long held, and when asked was happy to reaffirm.

There is no suggestion this is about to become official government policy, and last year MPs rejected a Conservative amendment to the Football Governance Bill that would have forced ministers to launch a formal consultation on scrapping the rule.

It is a complicated and divisive issue, about not just safety. But is it something that match-going supporters actually want?

Drinking alcohol at football grounds in England and Wales has been strictly controlled since the Sporting Events Control of Alcohol Act was introduced in 1985.

The ban impacts clubs in the Premier League down to the National League. While beer can be sold, it must be consumed in areas that do not have a view of the pitch.

The ban is more strict in Scotland, with a law in place since 1981 that alcohol is only available in hospitality areas and not for other fans.

The Scotland national team joined the trial for the friendlies against Japan and Curacao earlier this year. It has been extended to games against Switzerland on 29 September and Slovenia next month.

The women's game is not governed by the Sporting Events Control of Alcohol Act, enabling the competition organiser to make the change.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August the competition had not "got a specific view" and "we'd need to give it some really careful thought".

It added member clubs had already provided "a mandate to lobby for appropriate reform" which had "not kept pace with significant developments in stadium management, safety and stewarding".