“RUDD TARGETS SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS ALCOHOL CULTURE”

Sporting clubs could lose government funding if they don’t co-operate with a plan by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to curb what he calls an epidemic of binge drinking among young Australians. He announced a $53 Million dollar national strategy to counteract what Mr Rudd describes as a culture of binge drinking. Under his binge drinking strategy he announced:

– $14.4 Million will be spent on sporting clubs developing codes of conduct.
– $19.1 Million devoted to education and early intervention programs.
– $20 Million on a “shock” advertising campaign of the type seen previously seen on smoking, speeding, motorist and aids.

VAFA Chief Executive Officer Michael Sholly says “The VAFA welcomes the Rudd Government decision to deal with alcohol abuse in the community. The VAFA has a strong commitment to educate our players on the effects of binge drinking.”

A survey found that 13% of 18-20 year olds drank 13 or more standard drinks when they visited sporting clubs, and that 30% of youths aged 13 – 17 had participated in unsupervised drinking with almost three quarters never being asked for proof of age. The VAFA’s Under 19 sections play their games at 2pm which deters alcohol consumption during any following matches on that day.

The VAFA has a strict No Alcohol Policy at all VAFA Matches and promotes its amateur status strongly ensuring players are not receiving monitory incentives. “Many suburban clubs offer cash incentives for being named best on ground. This money given to teenagers usually ends up in the clubs bar where people over indulge. This is not the culture the VAFA are promoting.”

Mr Rudd said clubs would be expected to develop and conform to new codes of conduct for monitoring binge drinking on their premises. In a warning to clubs that failed to co –operate, Mr Rudd said the government would take sporting organizations actions on this question into account in possible future consideration of grants.

Michael Sholly added “All VAFA clubs will be asked to provide a code of conduct to ensure it fulfils Mr Rudd’s plans.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation Daryl Smeaton said “For the first time in a decade the federal government has come up with a strategy for our biggest drug problem. There is a major cultural issue in this country between alcohol and sport. At sporting clubs players learn to drink with their fathers and coaches as role models. They need to focus on being a community club, not a drinking club”.

The initiative has received support from other groups such as Good Sports, The Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia, and The Family First Party. AFL Spokesman Patrick Keane added that the AFL was in the initial stages of talks with the State government in regards to a federal strategy.