Scottish Beer & Pub Association (Sbpa) Urges SG to Act on World Cup Licensing

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has urged the Scottish Government to provide clear and consistent guidance to local Licensing Boards ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to ensure fans across Scotland can enjoy the tournament responsibly and safely.

In a letter to the First Minister, the SBPA welcomed the Government’s commitment to work closely with councils in preparation for the event and highlighted the vital role pubs and bars will play in bringing communities together during Scotland’s historic participation in North America.

The SBPA is also writing to all Licensing Boards urging them to support the industry this summer by granting extensions.

Paul Togneri, Senior Policy Manager at the SBPA, said:

“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for Scotland to showcase its passion for football and for communities to come together. Pubs and bars will be at the heart of that experience, providing a safe and welcoming space for fans to celebrate responsibly provided the Government and local Licensing Boards allow us.

“Our sector has faced significant challenges in recent years, and major sporting events like the World Cup can deliver a much-needed boost. We estimate that each Scotland match could generate an additional £3 million for pubs and bars across the country.

“The late-night kick-offs, coupled with the potential for extra-time, penalties, water-breaks, and even weather delays mean that clear guidance to local authorities is crucial. We stand ready to work with the Government and local authorities to ensure Scotland’s pubs play a positive role in this historic tournament, while upholding licensing objectives and promoting responsible enjoyment.”

Ends

A copy of the letter is below:

Dear First Minister,

On behalf of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, I am writing to express our support for the Scottish Government’s commitment to work closely with local councils in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We were particularly encouraged by the Health Secretary’s recent comments highlighting the Government’s intention to collaborate with local authorities to ensure that fans across Scotland can enjoy this global sporting occasion responsibly and safely.

As you will appreciate, our sector has faced and continues to face, a number of economic headwinds which has resulted in business failures and some pubs being forced to close their doors for good. The World Cup will provide a significant boost at this tough time. Our initial estimates are that each Scotland match could deliver an additional £3m in revenue for the sector.

The World Cup also presents a unique opportunity for communities to come together, celebrate, and support Scotland on the international stage. Pubs and bars are at the heart of this experience, providing a safe and welcoming environment for fans. With many matches scheduled late at night due to time differences, extended opening hours will be essential to allow supporters to watch games in full.

We recognise that decisions on licensing ultimately rest with local Licensing Boards. However, we believe that clear, consistent guidance from the Scottish Government would greatly assist councils in positively managing applications for extended hours. Such guidance would help ensure fairness across Scotland, avoid unnecessary administrative burdens, and give businesses the confidence to plan ahead whilst also upholding the licensing objectives.

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association would be delighted to work with the Government in drafting this guidance, drawing on our industry expertise and commitment to promoting responsibility. By working together, we can ensure that Scotland’s pubs play a positive role in this historic tournament.

We look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue with the Scottish Government and local authorities, and we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your officials to discuss how best to take this forward.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Togneri

Senior Policy Manager

Scottish Beer & Pub Association

Contact: ptogneri@beerandpub.com

Third-party news items that are posted on the Guild website come from press releases and emails received by the Guild. These are posted as they have been received. Their publication on the Guild website is an informational service only and is neither an endorsement of the content, nor its sender, by the Guild. For enquiries, please use the contact details that can be found at the bottom of each post.