interesting (and also depressing) thread this, or where it’s meandered to.
Coke is the lightening rod here, that and the whole “broadcast yourself” element of social media.
I guess I’ve always been a fan of “fan culture” whatever that means, I do like the “crackle” of an atmosphere you get at games, football - for me anyway - needs some of that. If I wanted a totally sanitised entertainment experience I’d just go to the cinema. I guess we all have an arbitrary line of what we think passes the “that’s ok, but that’s not ok” test at games.
But coke seems, to me, to be the big one here (I’ll have a drink before a game but don’t do anything else, just never have done). It’s so widespread now and there is no disincentive for those keen to do it, the police have their hands full, the stewards are powerless (and why would you confront someone when you are on, probably, minimum wage ?).
I like a few beers before a game, I’m never drunk, but some of the behaviour does surprise me. There was this fella that turned up at Stoke, literally 5 mins before kick off and he had a kid with him. He was clearly boozed and/or on coke and he was going absolutely bananas at someone that said he was in his seat. Calling out all the stewards, starting on this guy that said was in his seat. What must his kid have made of it ? As a dad I found it phenomenally depressing.