O’Hora: Drinks ads have no place in sport
PADRAIG O’HORA says alcohol advertising should play no part in sport.
The Mayo defender works in youth justice and mental health services and says he sees the impact of alcohol on a regular basis.
“I get a fair indication,” he says. “I have grown up as an Irish young lad too. So I have seen the impacts on my own family.
“Look, it’s detrimental. It has damaged a lot of lives and continues to do so. It’s something that has impacted my life.”
O’Hora gave up alcohol a number of years ago and it has had “huge benefits” for him.
“When they were talking about the alcohol Bill at the time and whether it was a good idea or a bad idea, I think people should have autonomy and should be able to do what they want, once over the age and inside the law.
“But I do have an issue with marketing and utilising sports to promote alcohol. We’re here for community includes everybody for the SuperValu campaign.
“What we can take from it is really, really positive. Any young people looking up to David (Clifford) or myself or any of the other ambassadors can see what we’re trying to do.
Branding
“I wouldn’t like to be associated with alcohol branding because we’re sports persons. None of us drink really, in season anyway, because we know it’s no good to us.
“There’s a law there anyway. They’re breaching the law anyway. But they’re using 0.0 (alcohol drinks) application to get around it but they’re still in breach.
“It’s powers above me that should be holding them accountable.
“That’s my opinion on it. That’s my stance. I don’t think they should be marketing towards young people through sports.”
O’Hora (inset) says he gave up drinking because he “wasn’t a great drinker” and he had a young family.
He continued: “I’ve seen the damage and I kind of know the road it goes down.
“The decision for me with young kids and everything was, it’s as easy to stop drinking now so that doesn’t become an issue in the long run.
“Lucky enough I didn’t have any addiction issues so it’s very easy for me to walk away from it.
“I want to be very clear that I understand what addiction is and I’ve seen people struggle with it. It’s a different story for a lot of people.
“I appreciate that, but for me it was quite easy.”
O’Hora says he was in the pub for most of three days when Ballina won the Mayo senior championship last year.
“I didn’t drink,” he says. “You can still do it. You can still socialise. It is a bit awkward-ish, I suppose.
“I don’t go out really because I don’t drink and there is no real grá to go out.
“There is nothing there for me, whereas if you win a county title or you have a good run with Mayo — whatever happens, you get an opportunity to go and socialise with your mates, you take it.
“I don’t think alcohol has to be the be all and end all. For example we won in New York and there was obviously the opportunity to go out and have a night out in New York. “I was there and had good craic. I think one or two others didn’t drink too, actually to be honest.
“It is part of it, but at the same time you can be involved without involvement.”