AFL Kicking Goals On Alcohol, Australia

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 05 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The Australian Drug Foundation applauds the Australian Football League's plans to curb excessive and binge drinking among its players, during both the on and off seasons.

After the release of a report commissioned by the AFL, conducted by John Fitzgerald of the University of Melbourne, the AFL will support the Player's Association to conduct player workshops on excessive drinking at the end of the year, before the Christmas/New Year period, rather than in February, as has been done in previous years.

The ADF's CEO, Bill Stronach, is pleased that the AFL is taking the issue so seriously.

"The AFL is to be commended for recognising the nexus between elite sportsmen, intoxication and harm. In commissioning this report, the AFL has proven that it is serious and courageous about reducing the amount of excessive and binge drinking by its players. The AFL is setting an example for other sporting bodies."

In 2001, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that 74 per cent of adults used alcohol on a regular basis, with around 30 per cent of teenagers drinking at least weekly. About one-third (34 per cent) of people aged 14 years and older put themselves at risk of harm in the short term on at least one drinking occasion in the previous 12 months. Around 10 per cent drank at levels considered to be risky or high risk to health in the long term. The figures are higher among young people aged 20-29 years, particularly among young men.

"Most Australians generally drink in reasonably safe ways. But unfortunately some groups place themselves at high risk of alcohol related harm. Young males are one group who perform such impressive feats on the field, then risk life and limb - literally - through unsafe exploits with alcohol." Bill Stronach says.

Moving the player workshops to the end of the year is one practical suggestion of the report that the AFL is taking on board, but, according to Mr Stronach, more practical changes need to be implemented. The ADF's Good Sports program is an example of how, at a community level, individual clubs can tackle alcohol abuse and misuse by both players and spectators. We look forward to consulting more with the AFL on this issue.

"We look forward to seeing other practical strategies implemented by the AFL in the future.

Together with it's illicit drug policy the AFL's initial response to alcohol is a forerunner of a comprehensive drug policy and range of practical strategies to ensure that AFL players are not placed at risk."

Australian Drug Fundation