Calls for a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports are being made after it was revealed that Scotland has a higher proportion of alcohol industry sponsors in comparison to football leagues in European countries with stricter alcohol marketing restrictions.
The research, commissioned by alcohol expert body Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and carried out by the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, reveals that the Scottish Premiership has a higher proportion of alcohol industry sponsors compared to most of the other European nations studied.
The study reveals that in comparison to ten other European leagues, Scotland had the second highest proportion of alcohol industry sponsors after Belgium, at 6.4% in Scotland compared to 2.6% across all the countries studied. Moreover, of the 12 Scottish Premiership football teams, 6 have at least one alcohol industry main sponsor or partner. The report This is the reason behind SHAAP launching the Calling Time on alcohol sports sponsorship campaign today.
Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair of SHAAP, said: “Doctors and the entire healthcare team see the impact of alcohol on people’s health, day in, day out. This is not surprising given how present alcohol products and alcohol marketing are in our everyday lives and the fact that the alcohol industry is allowed to sponsor our sports teams and events – which should be about health, participation and community. That is why we are being joined by others in our call to the Scottish Government to ban alcohol sponsorship in sports.”
Former First Minister, Henry McLeish, added: “There is something very special and unique about the dedication of Scottish football fans and our emotional connection to our clubs and the game. And this commitment is being capitalised on by the alcohol industry who use sponsorship to increase sales of their products to fans. This research shows that Scottish Premiership clubs have a comparatively lower number of sponsors that our European counterparts, and within this we have a higher proportion of alcohol sponsors.
“We must find a better way to finance Scottish football, finding sponsors with values that align with sports and community and that’s why I support today’s call for a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports.”
MacGilchrist added: “Now is the time for the Scottish Government, as it considers options for restricting alcohol marketing, to break the bond between alcohol and sport by banning alcohol sponsorship of sport in order to protect the health of people in Scotland.”
