Almost a third of GAA players in danger from binge drinking

NEARLY a third of GAA players are putting themselves at risk of developing chronic alcohol-related health problems such is the high level of their drinking, a study indicates.

More than half of sportsmen (54%) surveyed said they binge drink at least once a week, compared with 40% of males in a similar age group. Nine in ten players are drinkers and almost a third (31%) of them reported drinking over the recommended limit of 21 standard drinks a week.

In addition, nearly 90% reported experiencing at least one harm due to their drinking.

“As drinking over the recommended limit is linked to long-term chronic harm such as cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and high blood pressure, this suggests that one in three of the players who are currently drinking may be at increased risk of these alcohol-related health problems in the future,” said the report.

The study comes just a few weeks after a 19-year-old Waterford hurler, Gary Murphy, died after drinking a cocktail of vodka and beer. The Ballygunner clubman and UCC student died as a result of a drinking-game while celebrating an inter-county hurling final win with friends in Cork last December.

The study, the first comprehensive estimate of alcohol use among amateur sports people, was conducted among 1,000 players in more than 12 clubs in two counties.

The authors said, given the high response rate (72%), the findings were likely to be applicable generally among GAA players, at least in the region under study. The research was conducted by academics from Trinity College Dublin and officials from the HSE North East region.

The study said the proportion of drinkers reporting harms in the last 12 months was high:

* 31% were in a fight due to their drinking.

* 19% were in an accident.

* 12% attended A&E.

* 30% were verbally abusive.

* 43% missed time from work or college.

* 36% felt their drinking harmed their health.

* 68% regretted something said or done due to their drinking.

The high percentage involved in a fight is double that of males in a similar age group (15%), documented in a previous study.

The report, in BMR Research Notes, an online journal, said policy measures could include higher taxation on alcohol and changes in sport sponsorship, noting the alcohol industry was a key sponsor of the GAA hurling championship.