A MOTION is to be put forward this evening asking the GAA to ban alcohol sponsorship logos from replica intercounty jerseys which are sold to children.
Tourmakeady club in Mayo is calling on the GAA to take a stance on alcohol sponsorship.
Club secretary Michael Lang said the proposal was confined to intercounty replica jerseys as there was an acceptance that a large proportion of clubs, including his own, received backing from local pubs and hotels.
He said their motion – which will go before the annual Mayo GAA convention tonight – is aimed at preventing children going around wearing jerseys advertising breweries and major drink brands.
“You can see it on soccer jerseys, like Celtic, who have Carling and Liverpool, who used to have Carlsberg.
“In our opinion having the name of an alcoholic beverage across the front of a child’s shirt is not acceptable.
“The GAA is a great organisation and in the past they have never been shy in taking the lead on matters like tobacco sponsorship. It would be great to see them step in and set the example.
“In several other European countries it is illegal to have any form of alcoholic advertising on your shirt.
“ We have no such law here, but it would be good to see the GAA making that leap,” said Mr Lang.
He said that very few counties had major alcohol brands as main sponsors – Bushmills whiskey used to back Antrim – but that was all the more reason to bring in a rule now that would prevent these logos appearing.
“We have a serious problem with the availability of cheap drink in Ireland and we feel introducing a ban might help in some small way,” he added.