According to local businesses, the influx of Scottish supporters during the 2026 FIFA World Cup created a challenge for bars across Boston: keeping beer in stock. Thousands of members of Scotland’s “Tartan Army” arrived in the city for the tournament, and their celebrations following Scotland’s opening victory over Haiti pushed demand well beyond normal levels. Several establishments reported running out of popular beers and scrambling to replenish supplies.
According to The Boston Globe, Noelle Somers, COO of Hennessy’s Bar, said the business experienced higher demand from Scottish supporters. “We’ve been here for over 30 years, and we’ve never seen anything like it,” Somers said. “We tripled St. Patrick’s Day.” The increased volume affected operations throughout downtown, with certain venues temporarily exhausting their inventories of drinks including Guinness, Corona and Scotland’s Tennent’s Lager.
The heavy demand extended beyond traditional pubs. At the Samuel Adams Boston Taproom, sales of Boston Lager during four days were reportedly four times higher than what the company normally experiences during major holiday weekends. The brewery ultimately had to bring in additional supplies after fans drank through available stock. Other businesses also reported equipment strain from continuous service.
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The Tartan Army is Overwhelming Boston Pubs
Crowds gathered throughout the weekend following Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades. The celebrations spread throughout the city as Scottish supporters packed restaurants, bars and public events. “Very emotional, there was a lot of tears. Lot of tears for the Scottish boys,” Tommy Cowan, a Glasgow native, said via NBC Boston.
After Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti, large groups of fans marched through Boston and later gathered at Fenway Park for the Red Sox’s Scottish-themed event. There, they expressed their support for the hometown baseball team, which ultimately lost to the Texas Rangers.
Still, their presence transformed parts of downtown into gathering spots filled with songs and bagpipes, adding to already elevated traffic for local establishments. Business owners said they had anticipated strong crowds because of the World Cup but did not expect the level of consumption that followed.
Some venues were forced to reorder products faster than usual, while others adjusted staffing and supplies to accommodate the continuing influx of visitors. Even local airlines could not handle their arrival, as flights to the United States ahead of the World Cup were drained dry by the “Tartan Army.”
As a result, they are becoming beloved during this tournament, especially after they donated $30,000 to charity. With Scotland scheduled to remain in Boston for a group-stage match against Morocco and supporters from other countries also expected to arrive, businesses prepared for another busy stretch.
Published: Jun 17, 2026 02:00 pm