Scottish soccer crowds show Boston who’s boss in drinking stakes

When Scottish soccer fans invaded Boston last weekend, they didn’t just cheer their team on—they emptied local bars faster than you can say “cheers. ” While Irish-American drinkers usually get the spotlight for their legendary nights out, the visitors from Scotland outdid them by swarming taverns before and after their World Cup match, leaving shelves bare and refrigerators broken. From downtown pubs to neighborhood Airbnbs, fans turned up in huge numbers, and businesses scrambled to keep up. Local bar owners said they had never seen anything like it. One downtown spot tripled its usual St. Patrick’s Day sales in just one weekend, while another unexpected hotspot outside the city center was packed with fans who didn’t fit the typical tourist profile. Even a Red Sox game couldn’t stop the drinking spree—Sunday saw fans hopping from pubs to Fenway Park with the same energy.Beyond beer, fans worked through huge amounts of seltzers, ciders, and even non-alcoholic drinks. Some places ran out of basics like Budweiser and Corona within hours, while others had to call in emergency deliveries just to restock. One liquor store in the financial district even had a fridge door break from overuse, proving that fans weren’t just drinking—they were putting the place through a workout. Sports bars with Scottish beer on tap, like one famous local brewery, sold four times their usual amount over four days. That’s more than they’d normally sell during a full holiday weekend. The fact that they had to restock on a Saturday morning shows just how fast supplies disappeared. With another match coming up, Boston bars are now preparing for round two. If last time was any indication, they’ll likely need more stock, more staff, and maybe even reinforced fridges.