By: Pauline Semaan

So another footballer got drunk and bashed his girlfriend, teens are binge drinking again, and another brawl broke out after a footy game, why does ‘the general public’ then believe the best response to these problems to be a total ban on alcohol advertising?

The recent Brett Stewart saga seems to have added to pressures on the Federal Government to crack down on the endorsing of alcohol, especially to young people. Why? Brett’s an adult. And I’m sure most young people think he’s a jerk for punching his girlfriend.

But where is that link to alcohol advertising and the other alcohol related issues? Why is it that when two completely different puzzles share one common piece, people assume you can mash them all up and solve them together?

A recent national survey into community attitudes towards alcohol revealed noteworthy public alarm about the strong link between alcohol and sport, as sport and drinking are both often considered proud Australian traditions. 

Apparently, the Australian public is beginning to recognise that sport and sports fans are ‘getting a bad deal from this arrangement’ and that it’s probably about that time for change.

The AER think it’s important that players and fans alike, are able to watch the sporting matches they love free of alcohol problems. And rightfully so!

If players weren’t drunk, hung-over, suspended or recovering from a violent alcohol related incident, they’d be much better to watch and everybody’s favourite team would probably be playing that little bit better.

Survey findings:

84% of respondents were concerned that young people may think drinking is ‘part of the game’.

If VB sponsor the cricket that shows a pretty strong affiliation with the club, but really nothing at all to do with how the game is played.

73% said they don’t consider sports stars to be appropriate role models for safe alcohol use.

Maybe that’s because they aren’t, and aren’t meant to be. They are ambassadors for the sport and because of their high skill levels may end up attracting fans and youngsters that look up to them.

Perhaps being a public figure comes with responsibilities to these fans to behave legally and morally. Shouldn’t they be doing that anyway? I mean they kinda have the responsibility to these fans to play well and do it consistently.

The following is not a logical argument and conclusion:
 
a.    Alcohol is advertised on TV and usually Beer companies sponsor different sporting teams.
b.    Some sporting role models along with other people that have something or other to do with sport (majority of the country), sometimes get drunk and do pretty stupid shit. This includes those young people who binge drink (mainly RTD’s).
c.    Therefore, all society’s alcohol problems are the direct fault of alcohol advertising and we must ban it and ‘de-link’ alcohol and sport.

When asked about the ‘de-linking’ of alcohol from sport, AER Chair Mr. Scott Wilson said
“We are impressed to see people are prepared to question the status quo when it comes to sport. It’s encouraging to see sport is the clear front runner [over alcohol]. We would anticipate an initial period of adjustment, but as we saw with the banning of tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sport – both entities will evolve and survive”.

Dear Mr. Wilson,

1. Don’t you get it? There is so much more to this problem than your proposed ‘de-linking’.
2. There are two sides to this debate and it’s way more complicated than the general public would like to think. Jobs will be lost, smaller sporting pubs and clubs may be lost and I won’t know what other low carb beers are now on the market.
3. I wish people would stop making that distinction with tobacco sponsorship! Tobacco and alcohol are so totally different. That’s almost a discussion for another time, but in a nutshell alcohol can be consumed responsibly, where as tobacco cannot.

Once again the government has looked upon issues within society superficially. The problem with alcohol does not lie in advertising, sponsorship of sport or drunken role models.

Instead of the government taking the easy way out maybe they should consider more effective methods such as raising awareness of the detriments associated with drinking alcohol in immoderation. So simple, so cost effective, so: the only way. I’d drink to that!