05 Feb 2026
By Maddie Thomas, Trainee Solicitor, Corporate, Gilson Gray
Aberdeen City Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to approve extended licensing hours for the World Cup, allowing fans to watch Scotland’s matches without cutting celebrations short. The city’s Licensing Board agreed a blanket extension until 3am for the duration of the tournament, with a further 30 minutes after the final whistle of each Scotland game.
The move follows the Board’s recent decision to permit alcohol sales within the Pittodrie Stadium concourse during an Aberdeen FC match in December, signalling a more flexible and pragmatic approach to licensing.
For hospitality businesses, the extension offers a timely boost after a challenging trading period. With Scotland facing Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the group stages – and the opening match kicking off at 2am UK time – late-night openings are essential if fans are to gather legally and responsibly. Industry estimates suggest an additional three million pints could be poured nationwide, generating up to £15m for the sector.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association has praised Aberdeen’s proactive stance and urged other Licensing Boards to follow suit, highlighting the benefits of clarity and consistency for businesses planning staffing, security and stock.
The decision also raises wider questions. Will neighbouring councils adopt similar measures? In Aberdeenshire, discussions are already underway with licensing officers, Police Scotland and the licensed trade. Elsewhere, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, there is no confirmation yet of blanket extensions, and any decision remains at the discretion of individual boards.
While the Scottish Government has said it will work with local authorities, no national policy change has been announced. That leaves Scotland facing a potential patchwork of rules, despite Licensing Boards already having the power to grant extensions for events of “national significance”. Whether Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in almost 30 years meets that test may depend on geography.
Aberdeen’s decision sets an important precedent, showing how councils can balance economic opportunity, community celebration and responsible licensing. Whether it becomes the norm across Scotland – or remains a local exception – will become clear as Find out more about our Sports services here.
