Former Gaelic Athletic Association President Mick Loftus said that Irish government "moves to back away from banning sponsorship of sport by alcohol brands would be 'spineless,'" according to Shaun Connolly of the IRISH EXAMINER. Loftus "expressed alarm after ministers looked set to abandon plans to end drinks giants using major sports events for publicity."
A cabinet sub-committee "will examine the issue on Monday, but sources say the bid to ban sponsorship will be dropped."
Loftus, who led the GAA from '85-87, said that the government’s weakness "would continue to foster a culture linking alcohol and healthy activity." Loftus: "I can’t believe they are not going to impose the ban, alcohol does so much damage." Former Junior Health Minister Roisín Shortall "argued strongly to end the link between alcohol and sport when she was in government and accused her former colleagues of giving in to drinks giants." She said, "They have put the interests of big business ahead of health interests and that is disgraceful. This is a major climbdown. A weak government provides weak leadership." Drinks sponsors "will not be allowed to get involved with child-centred sports events." Health Minister Leo Varadkar said that "a ban on sponsorship would only work if alternative funding was available for sports bodies." Varadkar, who opposed the ban on alcohol sponsorship while sports minister, said that "it was unfair to target sport, and not music and culture events as well" (IRISH EXAMINER, 1/24).
