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Fielding backs alcohol in sport ban

News Clippings AAP, July 17 2009

AAP
July 17 2009

Family First senator Steve Fielding is backing a proposal banning alcohol promotion through sport.

He says the two make a dangerous cocktail.

The senator, who helped scuttle a permanent tax hike on alcopops in March, says endorsements in sport are to blame for Australia’s binge drinking problem.

And unlike the alcopops tax hike, Senator Fielding says this measure will actually work.

“There’s a very, very strong hook and link between sport and alcohol ... (they) are a dangerous cocktail,” he told ABC Radio on Friday.

“(This is) about realising that we have a culture problem.”

Senator Fielding said on Friday Australia’s problem with drinking costs the nation $16 billion a year and heavily influences both crime and the road toll.

“The reason ... is because of the special exemptions that are given to alcohol ads in sport,” he said.

Ads promoting alcohol are restricted to certain times of the day, except when shown during sporting programs.

Senator Fielding also pointed the finger at various footballers who have made headlines with their drunken “antics”, setting a bad example for children.

The proposal was reportedly put forward by the National Preventative Health Taskforce, selected by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to advise the federal government on policy.

It would strip the AFL, NRL, Cricket Australia and ARU of an estimated $300 million in sponsorship a year and also put a stop to booze advertising on sport websites and on television during games, News Ltd reports.

In March, the senator threatened to scuttle the government’s proposed 70 per cent tax hike on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages unless it agreed to ban alcohol ads during sporting programs.