Sir, – I think it disgraceful that the Government should prevent sports bodies and organisations from continuing to benefit from the money supplied by the drinks industry. Without this money many sports organisations and competitions would find it very hard to continue.
On the other hand, it seems to me the advertising associated with this sponsorship is the drinks industry’s best method of recruiting young people as drinkers. And we all know the devastating effect addiction to, and abuse of, alcohol causes in our society. However, the drinks industry consistently denies that this sponsorship has such an effect.
The Minister for Health can quite easily call the industry’s bluff. He can allow it to sponsor sport to its heart’s content, while banning advertising and promotion of alcohol through sport. True sponsorship does not demand a “quid pro quo”. – Yours, etc,
JOHN COLLINS,
Percy Terrace,
Lower Newtown, Waterford.