Should The Government Ban Alcohol Sponsorship? Dan Ginnane 17 July, 2009 - 12:21 PM

The Federal Government apparently wants to ban alcohol sponsorship in sport. A plan to enhance health, it would rip the heart out of Australian sport, having an effect that would flow on to grassroots levels.

The hypocrisy is astounding.

Firstly, the obvious. Alcohol is a legal product. The government doesn't seem to have a problem collecting taxes from the drink with its left hand, while holding out its right hand in mock horror.

It's the same attitude with cigarettes. Sure, they're a wrench on the health system, but, um, it's still legal.

Secondly, the impact of the state poker machine tax on struggling NRL clubs is proof that government intervention is indeed a negative force. All Sydney leagues clubs have been hit hard.

Think about this: when an organisation like, say, the Sharks, or the Panthers, receive a lower grant from their licensed club, and they spend the same amount on their salary cap as in previous years, where do the cutbacks occur? They have to come somewhere, right?

Clubs have to cut their more charitable services, like a bus for their elderly patrons. Prices at the bistro go up, and most importantly, junior sport takes a hit. Equipment can't be subsidised like it used to be, while parents are more likely to have to share the bill for things like ground hire and insurance.

What does that mean? Simple. It means less kids playing sport. Is that good for the health system?

In a society that has an ever-increasing obesity problem amongst its youth, just imagine the impact of $300 million of sponsorship money suddenly sucked out of the sporting economy.

If the Federal Government is so concerned with the effect of alcohol on society, then simply ban it. Binge drinking is a problem. No question. But do you think teenagers are getting blind drunk on the weekend because they see Ricky Ponting wearing a training shirt with an ironed on VB logo?

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• philbee says

  if only our so-called sporting heroes exercised common sense and behaved when having a tipple things wouldn't have to get as drastic.

  Posted Friday 17 July, 2009 12:26 PM
• simon says

  I'd like to see this happen actually - when cigarette advertising and sponsorship was banned the sports industry seemed to have little trouble finding other streams of revenue.

  Worth a shot and interesting to see what happens from it.

  Posted Friday 17 July, 2009 12:29 PM
• Phillip Tovey says

  As the mighty Gus would say "NO NO NO NO NO".

  Simon the other streams after smoking were Telecommunications as well as alcohol.

  We are at a sticking point with telcos as no team can be sponsored by a competitor of Telstra due to naming rights (ex-warriors who's deal preceeds Telstra), and if Booze was off the table you would not have any industry which is big enough and has enough cash to spend, accept possibly the banks, who generally already sponsor teams.

  All in all Footy, Beer and pies go together. Maybe Big Ben can become a big sponsor, but no then we'll have people banging on that people in the community are getting fat from Pie sales sky rocketing

  Posted Wednesday 22 July, 2009 1:05 PM
• Sheillah says

  Money will run short real quick - It's up to the CEO to have players sign contracts where there is NO ALCOHOL throughout the season - party hard off season BOYS!!

  Posted Thursday 23 July, 2009 10:30 AM

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