Union Berlin fans utilize self-help groups for addiction support

Self-help groups are providing addiction support for football fans in Germany, helping them navigate the presence of alcohol in stadium environments. At Union Berlin, the group ‘Nüchtern betrachtet. . . mehr vom Spiel’ was founded in 2019 to support individuals struggling with alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

The group meets weekly near the An der Alten Försterei stadium. Its primary goal is not to prohibit alcohol, but to enable fans struggling with addiction to continue attending matches safely. Similar initiatives exist at other clubs, such as ‘Weiß-braune Kaffeetrinker*innen’ at FC St. Pauli, ‘Klar Schiff’ at Hamburger SV, and ‘Schalke Null Bier’ at Schalke 04.