Rules about drinking alcohol before or during matches

[Stewart Reuben]

Nigel Wright >Can't imagine them costing an arm and a leg,<
That is more commonly a diabetes problem, caused sometimes by excessive alcohol and much less often nicotine containing drugs.
Stewart

[Nick Ivell]

I feel it is time to resurrect this interesting, if controversial thread.

I get very annoyed when I am told I cannot drink at the board. The last time this happened was at Moat College, the venue of the county final. A 'dry' venue, I am told. It is also a venue without soul. I very much hope I never have to play there again...

About children. I saw no children at the county finals. In any case, RESPONSIBLE drinking sets a good example to the kids. After a bottle of Bud (or dare I say two) I am not going to be standing on the table singing 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'. Promise!

If I am ever told I cannot drink at the board, it will be the last game of chess I ever play. I want chess to be fun. A bottle or two of beer enhances the fun, at least for me.

[William Metcalfe]

I do not drink alcohol and have not for 30 years but i have never objected to any opponent having a drink some players i encourage to have a drink as there level off play gets worse as the evening goes on lol.
After a game i regularily ask if my opponent would like a drink while we annalise the game or just have a chat in the bar.

[David Sedgwick]

If I am ever told I cannot drink at the board, it will be the last game of chess I ever play.

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that drinking alcohol at the board is forbidden in the British Championship.

With this in mind, I enquired some years ago whether it was forbidden in the 4NCL and was told that it was not.

[Nick Ivell]

If I am ever told I cannot drink at the board, it will be the last game of chess I ever play.

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that drinking alcohol at the board is forbidden in the British Championship.

With this in mind, I enquired some years ago whether it was forbidden in the 4NCL and was told that it was not.

Thanks for the info. I have not played in the British since 1985, and am certainly not tempted to now!

[Brendan Brown]

I think we have a bigger problem with Thermos flasks and weak lemon drinks, which causes much damage to the general image of chess players.

In these times of austerity don't you understand we have to keep the landlord happy so we don't lose the room.

Save our chess - buy another pint!

[Dragoljub Sudar]

I wouldn't join a club located in a dry venue. Chess is something I can do while drinking!

Gambit had to change venue in February; we moved to a real ale pub near the city centre. There has been a marked increase in attendence on club nights compared to our previous venue, with a 100% increase this summer compared to last summer. We've gained some new members, partly due to the location but also because the pub is one of the finest real ale houses in Nottingham.

[Nick Ivell]

I am pleased that the drinkers have come out of the closet. I want chess to be a social activity. I hate dry venues. There, I've said it! Let us not have our pleasures deprived by a puritanical minority. For most of us, chess is not the most important thing in our lives and never will be.

[Michael Jones]

I think we have a bigger problem with Thermos flasks and weak lemon drinks, which causes much damage to the general image of chess players.

In these times of austerity don't you understand we have to keep the landlord happy so we don't lose the room.

Save our chess - buy another pint!

Fair point - at my first club, certain players persisted in bringing their own drinks and had to be reminded under threat of being refused further use of the premises that this was not permitted.

I've never known anyone object to a "dry" venue, because people accept that a club has to take whatever it can get. Of course there were bars at my university, but none which had enough free space to host a chess match; we played in teaching rooms and visiting players accepted that if they wished to drink when they played us, they would have to bring their own.

[Stewart Reuben]

I am not sure whether drinking alcohol at the board during play is banned at the British Championships. When I was in charge I certainly discouraged it. That was to do with setting a bad example to the young and impressionable.
Stewart Reuben

[Phil Makepeace]

I think we have a bigger problem with Thermos flasks and weak lemon drinks...

I really hope that's a Simon Quinlank reference. Even if not, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment.

[Alan Walton]

This year at Sheffield, I did notice one player in the championship opening a few cans of lager during play.

Having one or two drinks isn't being irresponsible to the young, they see there parents drinking at home, what is wrong is being drunk/tipsy at the board

[Nick Ivell]

Everything in moderation! Being drunk and disorderly is a problem; having a drink or two at the board is not.

Smoking is a different issue, which I will not address, but I do think the ban has given an impetus to the killjoy brigade to go the extra mile, and turn their attention to the sauce. I do not welcome this attention.

[Roger de Coverly]

This year at Sheffield, I did notice one player in the championship opening a few cans of lager during play.

I don't think any of the venues for the British have had a bar on the premises in recent years. The reception area at Torquay Riviera Centre had a bar during the 2002 event, but since then they've reconfigured and removed it. Scarborough had a bar, but quite some distance (and outside) from the playing halls.

[raycollett]

I've never known anyone object to a "dry" venue, because people accept that a club has to take whatever it can get.

There was an unfortunate case last season in Worcester & District League where a player from a visiting team chose to concede his game rather than accept the rules of the home cub which have a 'dry' rule because they hire the venue from a Free Church.

The disadvantage of 'wet' venues is that they may not be suitable for junior players or considered suitable by parents of junior players.

I'm surprised in this thread that no one has mentioned the anti-drug FIDE rules and Jana Bellin (FIDE medical consultant) should be able to confirm whether alcohol is a prohibited.