Athletes’ changing attitudes
There appears to be less alcohol comsumption, more responsibility at sporting events
Wade Waddell remembers when he was a young kid, serving as the bat boy for the Borden Blues’ softball team in the early 1980s, that drinking was a significant part of the sporting culture in Prince Edward Island.
“I saw a lot and, even then after games, it was nothing for them to sit around and have five or six beer and jump in their cars and go,” said Waddell, who later played intermediate and senior softball for 15 years. “As time has gone on, even playing senior hockey, we would all have a beer or two after and never thought anything of it to jump in our rigs and go home.”
However, times appear to be changing as coaches, parents and organizations are all more aware of the dangers of letting young athletes celebrate – or drown their sorrows – with a few pints of alcohol.
“Between now and even 20 years ago, not only in sports but in society, we have seen a lot of changes,” Waddell said.
SHIFTING PERSPECTIVE
Eastlink Centre operations manager Stu Dunn says he has seen this shift first-hand at the arena that hosts Charlottetown’s junior hockey team as well as other concerts and events throughout the year.
“It’s definitely improved, 100 per cent, (over the years),” Dunn said. “It’s very rare and it might be one complaint a year.”
Eastlink Centre is the home arena to the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The Islanders hold the liquor licence at Eastlink Centre while the facility is responsible for security.
The arena’s Zamboni features an ad discouraging impairment. “The Islanders go out and seek those types of sponsors and I must give the Islanders credit,” said Dunn. “We approve what they ask to put on the Zamboni.”
Dunn has noticed spectators have become more responsible at all events.
An example Dunn noted is that bar sales at a recent event were mainly pop and water.
Asked if he can pinpoint any reason for the improvement, Dunn said his opinion is that the role of social media plays a factor.
“I don’t think people want to be the drunk person in the stands or at a concert, dance type thing,” said Dunn.
PARENTS’ INVOLVEMENT
Waddell, who played junior A hockey with the Summerside Western Capitals in the early 1990s and six years of senior hockey in Borden-carleton and Kensington, has coached the Kensington Vipers’ junior B team for close to 30 years as well as those years as a bat boy.
He said he does not have any statistics to back it up, but, in his opinion, drinking and driving appears to be down significantly.
“It’s still not perfect and when you open the papers you see people getting caught for impaired driving,” said Waddell. “Over the last number of years, (there’s been more) education, and parenting is different now.”
Waddell finds parents’ involvement is much different today than when he was a teenager.
“The parents are always saying, ‘If you are going to be out drinking tonight, call me,’ and in a lot of cases the parents are driving them to and from wherever they have to go,” said Waddell. “That wasn’t the case back when I was in high school or (playing) junior hockey. I see that a lot.”
After the Vipers, comprised mostly of players who are of drinking age, won the P.E.I. championship last season, Waddell and several parents offered their driving services for a team get-together.
Waddell acknowledged while the parents’ involvement can be overbearing for the coaches by times, in the case of being the sober drivers, it’s welcome.
“In this case, it’s a great thing,” said Waddell. “They know where their kids are at and, in a lot of cases, are carting them around.”
RESPONSIBLE SOCIALIZING
As the athletes get older, that responsibility shifts to the individual.
Jake Beck, who is entering his 14th season of playing senior baseball with the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League-champion Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders, said his organization stresses being safe while blowing off steam.
“We focused on what we were trying to do, we focused on the practice or game, and it’s an opportunity to hang out and get to know somebody better. Learning what’s going on in their life and certainly having a beer and conversations are a big part of it,” said Beck.
Beck said everybody must be self-conscious and aware of their tolerance level and what’s acceptable.
“Nobody wants to go through that embarrassment of having their name in the paper for getting a DUI, and certainly we don’t want to have our team’s name attached to it if it was an event of ours that they were leaving from,” said Beck.
The veteran right-handed pitcher said it’s important to not push boundaries and respect the laws.
Beck said there’s nothing wrong with getting a drive home or spending the night with a teammate.
“The emphasis is on responsible driving,” said Beck. “It’s something we as a team do talk about and respect most importantly.”