Four decades after Australian fans expressed outrage about being restricted to “only” one case of BYO beer to the cricket, the game’s spiritual home continues to celebrate its quaint alcoholic tradition. At Lord’s – the scene of this week’s World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa – fans are permitted to bring either one bottle of wine or Champagne (max. 750ml), two cans/bottles of beer/cider (max. 500ml each) or two cans of premixed aperitifs (max. 330ml each) to a day’s play.
The famous old ground claims to be the only major sporting venue in the world to allow BYO alcohol. The unique laws came under threat in 2021 when boozed-up spectators became overly boisterous during a London Spirit v Trent Rockets game in The Hundred competition.
A Lord’s official told Yahoo Sport Australia: “The members thought that was going to ruin it for everyone and it would be the end of the tradition. But the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) sent a letter out to all members saying they were exempt from the ban and it would only apply to other spectators for the rest of The Hundred season. There was much relief. We cherish this rule.”
Louise Head (white singlet) with family at friends at Lord’s. Image: Supplied
Aussies envious of alcohol rules at Lord’s
The relaxed laws at Lord’s – a place known for its stuffy traditions and reluctance to move with the times – brings into sharp focus Australia’s unbending restrictions. Two generations of fans have missed out on the sheer joy of bringing your own alcohol to a sporting fixture, negating the need to donate a body part to afford stadium prices.
Patrons were initially restricted to just one carton of beer per person but poor crowd behaviour completely killed off the concept in the 1980s, with the SCG hill no longer resembling a beer can war zone at the end of a day’s play. It’s now a case of drink an expensive beer of the venue’s choice from a plastic cup or swear off the grog for a day.
The prices are much steeper to purchase alcohol at Lord’s. Image: Supplied
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London-based Australian Louise Head was clutching a BYO bottle of Canti prosecco when approached by Yahoo at Lord’s. She spent around $20 Australian for her bottle, while outlets just a few metres away were selling bottles for $70 and upwards.
“It’s very unique and quite brilliant because you can bring your drink and food and you don’t have to spend so much money when you’ve already spent a lot on the ticket,” she said. “It’s just makes it a lot more affordable for families especially and you have the added bonus of being able to choose what you want to drink rather than drinking what’s on sale. I think more people would go to games in Australia if they introduced something like this.”