Sport and recreational activities are a part of the Australian way of life. Involvement in sporting activities can connect, build and empower communities, contribute to social inclusion and increase sharing between diverse members of the community.1
Alcohol has played a large role in the culture of some sporting clubs, whether it be celebrating a win, commiserating a loss or through association with club functions and fundraisers. Risky alcohol use in the broader community is an acknowledged problem and being part of the community, sporting clubs may also experience problems relating to risky alcohol use.
However, community based sporting clubs are in a position to be leaders and reduce the problems associated with risky alcohol use. Sporting clubs have started to address this through influencing club members’ attitudes towards drunkenness and improving serving practices and the drinking culture of sporting clubs.
For ways to encourage your sporting club to take action click here.
The Problem
There has been a tradition of risky drinking within some Australian sporting clubs. There are many problems associated with alcohol misuse and drunkenness.
Why risky drinking and drunkenness can be a problem for sporting clubs:
- Sport is a leisure activity that can have clear links with risky drinking behaviours. Sporting clubs are environments where alcohol can be consumed at risky levels and where community clubs rely on the revenue from alcohol sales to finance club activities.2, 3
- Heavy drinking as part of post game celebrations is a tradition in many sporting clubs, and clubs are known to ignore or defy laws regarding the sale and serving of alcohol.2
- Many Australian studies have shown that members of particularly male teams feel pressure to drink due to the masculine image of sporting activity and mateship.4 (Jones et al. 2006).
- Research has identified the lack of club policies about the responsible service of alcohol as a factor that influences the risky use of alcohol in sporting clubs. At clubs, the bar staff are often voluntary workers and the club president is also likely to hold a temporary position.5
- A national survey in 2004 of attitudes and behaviours in amateur sporting clubs found that:
- 1 in 5 men aged between 18 and 30 reported consuming 10 or more drinks in a night.
- 45% of men and 40% of women aged between 18 and 30 reported drinking at a level which will harm their long-term health.
- Over three quarters of men and women aged between 18 and 30 drive home from their sports club and 30% of both men and women have had too much to drink and drive.6
- Further research demonstrates that spectators at sporting events are more likely to have unsafe drinking practices than those participating in events relating to the arts.7
- The celebration of risky alcohol consumption by elite sportsmen and their involvement in the promotion of alcohol is common in Australia. The use of sportspeople as ‘model drinkers’ in alcohol advertisements can impact on young people’s attitudes towards alcohol and drunkenness.2,8
References:
1. Department of Sport and Recreation, ‘More than winning, the real value of sport and recreation in Western Australia’. Government of Western Australia.
2. Munro, G. Scott, J & Angelis, G (1999) ‘Creating a New Culture’ The Sporting Clubs’ Alcohol Project – Public Report, Australian Drug Foundation & Centre for Youth Drug Studies.
3. Roche, A. Bywood, P. Borlagdan, J. Lunnay, B. Freeman, T. Lawton, L. Tovell, A & Nicholas, R. (2008) Young People and Alcohol: The Role of Cultural Influences, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Adelaide.
4. Jones, S. Phillipson, L. Lynch, M (2006) Alcohol and sport: can we have one without the other?, Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong, New South Wales.
5. Australian Drug Foundation (2001) Good Sports Accreditation Program: Pilot Project 2000 – Evaluation Report March 2001, Centre for Youth Drug Studies, Australian Drug Foundation, Australia.
6. Duff, C. Scealy, M. & Rowland B. (2004) The culture and context of alcohol use in sporting clubs in Australia: research into attitudes and behaviour. Australian Drug Foundation, Australia.
7. Mitchell J, Mills C and Rosenberg M. Survey on Recreation and Health 1992-2006: Executive Overview. Health Promotion Evaluation Unit, School of Population Health, the University of Western Australia, Perth, 2007.
8. Black, D. Lawson, J & Fleishman, S. (1999) Excessive alcohol use by non-elite sportsmen. Drug and Alcohol Review, 18:2, 201 – 205.