The price of alcohol at the new Twenty20 competition "could be significantly increased in an attempt to stop drunken behaviour and make the tournament more attractive to women and families," according to Elizabeth Ammon of the LONDON TIMES. A pint of beer at a T20 Blast match "at one of the larger grounds" costs about £5 ($6.47) but it is "possible that this could be increased" to £8 ($10.36) or £9 ($11.65), with soft drinks being as little as 50p ($0.65) or £1 ($1.29). As well as price hikes, the venues for the eight-team tournament that will run from '20 are "likely to have family-only areas" or "dry zones," where no alcohol can be consumed. It is also "likely that there will be no alcohol or gambling sponsorship allowed on team shirts or inside the grounds." The England & Wales Cricket Board's working group has discussed "a number of ideas on how to ensure that the new competition attracts an audience of predominantly families" rather than the "stag-do" culture that prevails at Thursday and Friday night T20 Blast matches at present. Somerset County Cricket Club Chair Andy Nash said, "One of the problems we have with the Blast is we are trying to make it more of a family occasion but we do get stag parties turning up and having a beer fest. This will put off some families" (LONDON TIMES, 5/8).
