Audience attending concerts at Wembley may face alcohol restrictions under a recent tightening of regulations, subsequent to an incident involving a 45-year-old Oasis concert attendee who allegedly slipped on spilled alcohol and fell to his demise.
In the wake of a tragic incident at an Oasis concert, Wembley Stadium is currently reviewing its alcohol policy for music events. On August 2, 2025, fan Lee Claydon slipped on spilled beer and fell from the upper tier, resulting in his unfortunate passing at the age of 45.
Despite the tragedy and subsequent public safety debates, as of early August 2025, there are no restrictions yet on the sale or consumption of alcohol at seats during concerts at Wembley Stadium. Unlike the more restricted alcohol policies typically enforced at football fixtures under FA rules, the venue continues to allow alcohol consumption at seats for music events.
The incident has sparked a critical examination of these policies, with questions being raised about whether tighter regulations like those for football matches should be adopted for concerts. No ban or strict limitation on alcohol sales or possession has been officially announced for upcoming concerts at Wembley, but heightened scrutiny and possible future changes to enhance safety are anticipated.
Outside food and drink (including alcohol) are prohibited from being brought in, and only alcohol sold inside is permitted. Wembley Stadium works closely with all relevant event delivery stakeholders, including local authorities, the Sports Ground Safety Authority, and the police, to deliver events to high standards of safety, security, and service.
The venue's 90,000 capacity currently has different rules for football matches compared to gigs. In football matches, drinking in the seating areas is prohibited to crack down on binge drinking.
Lee Claydon, a lifelong Oasis fan, left behind a grieving family, with his partner Amanda paying tribute to him as a devoted father, soulmate, and role model. His heartbreaking final post on Facebook was "Cheers our kid".
His brother, Aaron, set up a GoFundMe page to support the grieving family. In a Facebook post expressing excitement about the concert before Lee's tragic incident, Aaron described Lee as a loving family man who was a role model to his son.
Another fan had a nasty accident during a subsequent Oasis concert, falling down the stairs and smashing their head on the ground. This incident has further fuelled discussions about the need for stricter alcohol policies at concerts.
Wembley Stadium bosses are debating rolling out FA fixture rules for alcohol sales at big music concerts. Safety stewards were seen putting sand down on the floor to soak up knocked-over drinks during the incident.
In 2022, Coldplay held the title for the booziest shows at Wembley Stadium, with fans consuming 120,000 pints during their set. However, one Oasis concert at the stadium saw fans drink 250,000 pints of beer, breaking the stadium's record.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson stated that they regularly review and test their plans to ensure safety. The collaboration between event delivery stakeholders is crucial for delivering events at Wembley Stadium.
The Wembley Stadium authorities are deliberating over implementing alcohol policies similar to those in football fixtures for major music concerts, in light of recent incidents. Even though alcohol is currently allowed at music events, such as the one that tragically claimed the life of football enthusiast and Oasis fan, Lee Claydon, discussions are underway to adopt stricter regulations.
