Newcastle United supporters have expressed their disappointment after train service provider LNER announced trains from Kings Cross to Newcastle would be alcohol-free after 7pm. Football fans up and down the country have become accustomed to booze free trains.
The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 makes it illegal to possess alcohol, drink alcohol, or be drunk on a vehicle principally being used to convey passengers to specific sporting events. With the Carabao Cup Final kicking off at 4:30pm, supporters will likely be on a dry train if they plan to return to the North East that evening.
The Football Supporters association has accused LNER of 'completely misreading the mood' of black and white supporters travelling back from their first cup final in over two decades.
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It comes after an LNER tweet read: “LNER services between and London King’s Cross on 25 and 26 February will be very busy. Trains from London King’s Cross to Newcastle after 19:00 on 26 February will be dry trains, meaning no alcohol is permitted on these services.”
The FSA criticised the decision, responding: “We’ve long been opposed to dry trains that target football fans for just being football fans on a day out. This move from LNER for the League Cup final won’t achieve much and has completely misread the mood amongst #NUFC fans, which will be celebratory regardless.”
The rail company would respond: “The decision has been taken in co-operation with the British Transport Police to prevent any unnecessary antisocial behaviour, fuelled by alcohol. We want fans to enjoy themselves, but not at the risk of injury to other customers or our colleagues.
“We will have additional security and Transport Police in place at London King’s Cross to assist our colleagues and manage the capacity levels on services to ensure everyone travelling with us, for football or not, gets to their destination safely and enjoys their journey.”
The FSA remained unsatisfied, replying: “Thanks for the reply – we remain completely unconvinced by the explanation, however. If you could feed that back to the senior management at LNER, they’ve got this one wrong.”
Newcastle United supporters and fans of other clubs took to social media to share their views:
@_J_92__ said: "Used to be a total joke those services home from London away games - football fans not allowed drink but p****** up hen dos are allowed to get on at York etc and cause even more bother for other passengers than football fans would."
@henditoon said: "And it'll never work."
@D1cko1884 tweeted: "Rather than have a few beers, loads will now take spirits on board as they are easy to disguise. Eurostar to Euro 16 were all ‘dry’ services. Rather than have a few beers on board, I ended up doing a bottle of vodka There are no words for the people who make these decisions."
@DanMcMahonF1 said: "Like many I feel this is poor judgement, in spite of the explanation. Dry trains aren't enforced in many other scenarios, e.g. race day attenders in York etc. Picking an #NUFC cup final day to enforce draconian measures is a shame, and wrong in my opinion."
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