Regan: GAA and alcohol sponsorship a Government call

THE GAA should continue accepting sponsorship from drinks companies until the government tells them not to, according to the association’s alcohol abuse prevention co-ordinator.

Colin Regan, national co-ordinator of the GAA’s ASAP (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention) Programme believes the onus is on the Government rather than the GAA to rule on whether alcohol companies are allowed to sponsor gaelic football and hurling.

The former Leitrim senior footballer insisted the GAA would be left “at an enormous disadvantage” to other competing sporting bodies around the country if it bowed to pressure on the subject.

At the Mayo convention earlier this month former GAA President Dr Mick Loftus called for a ban on all alcohol advertising, a move which would end the involvement of companies like All-Ireland SHC sponsors Guinness. But Regan, who is spearheading the GAA’s new health initiative Off The Booze and On The Ball, which challenges association members to stop drinking for the month of January, disagrees.

“This issue is something that is raised at a lot of events. Personally taking the ASAP hat off, and I’m speaking genuinely, I don’t think it’s the GAA’s responsibility to do that.

“For instance in my role, I don’t think I would have the capacity to influence it. It’s the government’s responsibility to make the call on that.

“If the government does make a call, the association will have no problem in towing that line. All the competing national governing bodies are receiving significant sponsorship from drinks companies, much more so than the GAA. The association would be left at an enormous disadvantage if it did bring that in on its own.

“Why would one governing body take that step and leave themselves at a disadvantage to your competitors?”

Regan also believes the changes made to the GAA’s sponsorship model are an effective way of tackling the problem and rejects suggestions that the presence of alcohol as sponsorship is at odds with the ASAP programme.

“Guinness have been a very valued sponsor of the association. The ASAP initially came about following the establishment of an alcohol task force by the GAA in 2004 under the chairmanship of Joe Connolly. They recommended an initiative be set up in the association to educate members about drink and drugs.

“Arising from that, there was a strong look at the sponsorship model. The association made the move of removing Guinness as a core sponsor into a tiered system where they’re now one of three for the hurling championship. We also removed all sponsorship from juvenile teams of drinks companies and betting companies.

“Does it clash with the ASAP programme? Honestly I don’t think so. To me it’s like a parent who takes a drink, would it be hypocritical of them to advise children to engage sensibly with alcohol?

“No I don’t think it would be. Even going beyond Guinness, look at the amount of local pubs around the country that sponsor club teams. There’s always been that relationship between the local pub and the local team.”