It’s aggression, not the outcome of a match, that fuels drinking among rugby spectators, according to a study published in Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health. 

The survey of 200 male rugby supporters at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium found that spectators in the winning and drawing groups rated themselves as more aggressive than those whose team just lost. More aggressive spectators have been shown to drink more alcohol after the match.

“It appears that aggression, not celebration, determined how much spectators planned to drink after the match,” says lead author Simon Moore, of the Violence Research Group, Cardiff University.

“These results are also consistent with events around the world which have seen the fans of winning teams run riot after the match.”

The authors say the results could have important implications for crowd control. Threats of future punishment will have little  influence based on this model and rapid deployment of police and on the spot fines could be more effective, suggests the team.

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