By Graeme Esson BBC News Online Scotland

The SRU wants the alcohol ban lifted at Murrayfield

The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) made the suggestion following the publication of the Nicholson Report on the future shape of the country's licensing laws.

The committee, chaired by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson, did not make any specific recommendations on the laws covering sports grounds.

But it suggested that the time was right for a fresh look at whether the restrictions should be changed.

A pilot scheme at one of the country's major stadiums was suggested as a possible way forward.

SRU marketing director Phil Anderton told BBC News Online Scotland that the body's preference was for a straight lifting of the ban.

'No problems'

But he said: "If the condition for us to be allowed to serve alcohol is that it would be done on a test basis we would be happy to do that.

"We are confident that there would not be any problems."

Edinburgh's Murrayfield stadium is the only rugby ground covered by the laws which ban the sale of alcohol to those on the terraces at Scottish Premier League football grounds.

It occurs to us that one possible way forward would be to have a limited pilot scheme at one of the major stadiums Nicholson Report

Its inclusion was actually requested by the SRU following the McElhone Report on crowd trouble at football grounds in the 1970s.

However, the body now argues that the ban is having an adverse effect on Scotland's economy.

The SRU believes it contributed to the decision to stage next year's Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup Final in Cardiff, where drinking is allowed.

It asked the Nicholson Committee to recommend a relaxation of the restrictions - a call taken up by the Scottish Conservatives.

Party leader David McLetchie has lodged a parliamentary motion calling for the ban to be lifted at Murrayfield and all fully-seated football grounds.

'Not unsympathetic'

He argued that the ban "has served its purpose and is now having a detrimental effect on the finances of football clubs and Scottish rugby."

The Nicholson Committee said it was "not unsympathetic" to the argument, particularly in relation to Murrayfield.

However, the committee said it was also "keenly aware" of the controversy which surrounded the subject of alcohol in sporting grounds.

We had been slightly concerned we would be caught up in the overall concern about alcohol consumption Phil Anderton Scottish Rugby Union

"Moreover, we are also aware that many, and possibly all, chief constables have considerable reservations regarding the wisdom of making any change to current restrictions," said the report.

The committee decided not to make any recommendations on this issue.

"However, given that the particular circumstances which gave rise to the present restrictions all took place more than 30 years ago, we consider that the time may now be ripe for all concerned to revisit this matter in order to see whether any changes are now appropriate," said the report.

"It occurs to us that one possible way forward would be to have a limited pilot scheme at one of the major stadiums."

Mr Anderton said he was "a little bit disappointed" that the report did not make any recommendations on the issue.

Donald Gorrie supports the idea of a trial period

But he said: "We had been slightly concerned we would be caught up in the overall concern about alcohol consumption and it would be clamped down on. We are relieved that this has not happened.

"We will take some comfort in the fact that it is saying people should be looking at it and perhaps having a test."

He said the SRU would be taking that idea forward in meetings with ministers and other MSPs.

Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie has already called for two-year trials into the lifting of the ban.

In an amendment to Mr McLetchie's motion, he said that the tests should be run at Murrayfield and at football grounds.

We are more than happy to engage in the debate on this matter Malcolm Dickson Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland

He said the football stadia chosen should be outwith Edinburgh and Glasgow.

"If you have properly controlled arrangements within grounds you get better behaviour than if people tank up beforehand," he said.

"I think it could work well, so I support having a trial for the SRU and one or two football clubs."

Malcolm Dickson, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) spokesman on liquor licensing, said the organisation had "considerable reservations" about changing the current restrictions at sporting grounds.