The Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) in partnership with the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) aims to address ADF statistics which reveal more than 30 per cent of 13 to 17 year olds had participated in unsupervised drinking at a sports club.

According to the ADF study, 51 per cent of drinkers at sports clubs are consuming alcohol at harmful or hazardous levels providing inappropriate role models for young people.

Staff from the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Service Health Promotion and Prevention Unit at GWAHS, the Orange Crime Prevention Committee, Canobolas Licensing Sergeant Mick Wheelhouse, and Orange City Council’s Ben Keegan and Councillor Jason Hamling have developed a partnership to promote Good Sports and seek local club involvement in ensuring responsible alcohol management practices.

According to GWAHS’ Ashlee Claydon, the Good Sports program is not about stopping clubs from drinking and selling alcohol at their games.

“It is simply a program that helps sporting clubs to better manage their alcohol use and model positive behaviour to the younger players in their clubs,” she said.

“It also allows community sporting clubs who have no involvement with alcohol to be recognised for actively choosing not to do so.

“This also helps parents and prospective players to easily identify clubs that are maintaining responsible practices around alcohol.

“Member registrations have been shown to increase in Good Sports accredited clubs because it demonstrates to the community that the club is family friendly and they do care about their younger players,” Ms Claydon said.