Boost To Change Sport Booze Culture

Newcastle Herald

Saturday May 17, 2008

By MARTIN DINNEEN

AMATEUR sports clubs are a great way to meet friends and stay fit, but they can be centres for unhealthy drinking habits.

The Hunter and New England Good Sports program seeks to reverse this by improving the culture of the clubs, encouraging a family-friendly atmosphere with education on responsible service of alcohol.

The program had a healthy injection yesterday with the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation pledging $225,000 over three years.

A survey by the Australian Drug Foundation showed community-based sports clubs were often the scene of under-age or excessive drinking.

It revealed more than 30 per cent of people between the age of 13 and 17 had taken part in unsupervised drinking at a sports club and 50 per cent of drinkers consume harmful levels of alcohol.

Hunter New England Good Sports manager Marc Glanville said while many clubs have a drinking culture this can be moderated to incorporate family-friendly activities.

"The Good Sports program isn't about not drinking, but doing it responsibly," he said.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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