Sport Groups Agree To Binge-drinking Code
The Sunday Age
Sunday January 18, 2009
SIX of Australia's biggest sporting organisations have signed up to a new binge-drinking code promising that players, coaches, referees and officials who are under the influence will be banned from participating in sporting contests.
The national code also places the onus on players to set a positive example by consuming alcohol in moderation.Under changes to be announced today, the AFL, the Football Federation, Cricket Australia, Netball Australia, Australian Rugby Union and the National Rugby League, have agreed to tough guidelines where sportspeople will be ordered to leave matches and venues if they are drinking or under the influence of alcohol.The code also commits sporting organisations to do everything possible to provide food and non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks at sporting events and expects that individuals covered by it should consume alcohol in a safe way and promote responsible drinking.Footballers, cricketers and others are also required to "act as role models" for their sport and teams, and behave in a dignified and professional manner that "promotes and upholds standards of integrity, dignity and professionalism".Sportspeople will be asked to take reasonable action to prevent and address alcohol problems and "not put themselves, teammates nor the general public at risk of serious physical and social harms".Sports Minister Kate Ellis said alcohol was responsible for about 72,000 hospitalisations and 3000 deaths a year and sport was an important part of the solution."Today's announcement represents an important step in the partnership between the Australian Government and national sporting organisations to help promote responsible attitudes and practices to alcohol through leadership and support," Ms Ellis said."We recognise that binge drinking is a broad, community-wide problem and we believe that sport can be an important part of the solution."The moves are intended to target the binge-drinking culture that continues around sporting clubs, especially the football codes.The Federal Government hopes that changing sports culture will send a message to young Australians and assist in moves to combat the problem of alcohol abuse among the young.The code applies to elite professionals, amateur sporting clubs, registered players of clubs, accredited coaches and assistant coaches, support personnel, umpires, referees and other officials.Sporting bodies have agreed not to allow players onto the field if they are drinking or under the influence of alcohol.Other sporting organisations are being encouraged to sign up to the code, which is voluntary and will have no impact on federal funding.The code is part of the Federal Government's previously announced national binge-drinking strategy, which includes a $20million advertising campaign and $20 million for early intervention to encourage young people to assume responsibility for their drinking.It does not address the issue of alcohol advertising and lucrative sponsorship deals clubs have with alcohol brands.A parliamentary committee is also considering a ban or limitation on alcohol and gambling advertising on television and radio.
© 2009 The Sunday Age