Country WA footy clubs will be targeted in new campaign to cut binge and underage drinking

WA country football clubs are front and centre in a new health campaign to combat excessive and underage drinking. One of the measures touted includes following the lead of the Perth Football League and banning post-match beers in the changerooms. The three-year Healthway program aims to cut binge drinking at country footy clubs and identify the reasons behind it. Clubs will be urged to create policies that discourage drinking, set alcohol reduction goals and promote the Alcohol. Think Again campaign. Club representatives, community leaders and relevant organisations are expected to be involved in the campaign, with “evidence-based strategies” tailored to “the specific needs of each club”. The program comes after a series of interviews conducted by Healthway highlighted the need for alcohol-related behaviour change at a club level. Sports Minister David Templeman told The Sunday Times the program would be a positive step for country footy clubs. It follows a united commitment by WA sporting codes to improve club behaviour after several incidents of sideline violence. The joint commitment was made at a roundtable meeting last month, which had been called in the wake of shocking sideline fights at junior footy and soccer games. “We know that from time to time we have sideline behaviour that is not appropriate and we’ve seen some examples of that earlier this year,” Mr Templeman said. “I had a very important forum only a month ago with numerous sporting codes. “I think we need to have a balance and what we know is that many clubs, of course, rely on sales through their canteens and bars. Yes, it may be important for their financials through their fundraising but it shouldn’t be front and centre of what they do. “We just want to make sure that is not a forward message, if you like, of the club’s culture. We want that to be inclusive. Issues around alcohol or other sponsorship issues should not be of primary focus.” There have been several attempts to reduce the drinking culture in amateur and country footy leagues in the past decade. In 2020, Perth Football League banned the traditional post-match beers in changerooms, skimpy waitresses, drinking on buses and pre-1pm booze sales. At the time, then-WACFL president John Shadbolt, ruled out following suit, saying the country leagues would “get a fair bit of pushback” to scrapping the post-game ritual. But under Healthway’s partnership with the new WACFL president Mel Sulzberger, a cultural shift looms. Ms Sulzberger said the Healthway partnership was more holistic than just alcohol-related initiatives and involved promoting healthier eating, mental health, respectful behaviour and inclusivity. “Country footy clubs are important to regional communities. These are the community hubs, sometimes the only place to go a couple times a week for social interactions. We want them to be safe and great environments,” she said. “We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. We have juniors around our club and we want a good culture for them.” Curtin University will also undertake a research project to better understand the underlying causes and prevalence of the issue. The research will focus on changing the behaviour of footy players aged 15 to 18 and those in remote and rural areas. Healthway will also support research by Cancer Council Victoria to find how young adults in WA perceive and respond to misleading marketing claims on alcohol. The aim will be to reduce children and young people’s exposure to such marketing. It comes after Healthway worked with WA Cricket — then the WACA — in 2013 to dump its alcohol and junk food promotion in return for a record $2.1 million sponsorship deal. The three-year agreement had been the biggest in the history of the State Government-funded agency since it was set up in 1991.