Cricket boozers warned

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 4

Cricket boozers warned

NZPA Melbourne I Experimental beer restrict- • tions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground come into force here on Saturday at the start I of the Australia-West Indues second test. I But the secretary of the ■Melbourne Cricket Club (Mr IL Johnson) has warned that the restrictions would be I tightened if there were more |boozy outbreaks. I Under the new restrictions [cricket patrons will be ai- | lowed to enter the grounds (with only one portable cooler ! no bigger than 35cm by 30cm by 25cm (Min by 12in by IlOin. I Mr Johnson said this would j allow about 15 to 18 cans of beer to be brought into the ’ground on ice. Patrons would be allowed to bring only a dozen small icans into the ground if they I were not in a portable cooler, I he said. I “It’s a trial — our object

[is not to interfere with the (rights of the decent spectator land not allow a minority of [louts to prejudice the enjoyment of the great majority,” Mr Johnson said. The new restrictions will limit the number of small cans able to be bought at kiosks in the ground to six at (a time. j The move follows a stormy [week-end of one-day matches, | beer and 70 arrests a fortinight ago at the Melbourne lCricket Ground. I Beer-loving cricket patrons [arrived at the ground with Igiant cool packs, plastic rub- ; bish dustbins and even babv (baths brimful with cans of I beer and ice. [ “This is an experiment, if [it doesn’t work we’ll be more [strict in our policing of it ,and tighten up the limitations [on what can be brought into i the ground,” he said. | “The idea of the container rule is to allow someone to [have half a dozen cans at

lunch with a mate, which makes it reasonable for the decent person who likes to have a glass of beer while watching the game.”

The conditions applv for the rest of the 1979-80 season at the M.C.G. including tests, one-day internationals and Sheffield Shield matches.