Clubs cop booze warning

Police are warning South Canterbury sports clubs to handle alcohol responsibly or face the consequences.

With winter sports teams already starting their practices and pre-season preparations, MidSouth Canterbury police area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said it’s timely to remember that the health and safety of club members is the responsibility of the individual clubs.

South Canterbury Rugby CEO Craig Calder reinforced the police message. They will work closely with clubs this season and putting up notices in dressing rooms promoting responsible drinking.

‘‘The union is very much driving the message of responsible drinking.’’

Calder said the union showed its commitment to drinking responsibly when the Crusaders game against the Highlanders in Timaru in July was alcohol-free.

Gaskin said there have been accidents, including deaths of sports club members going home after both games and practices in the past, and that clubs throughout the district need to take responsibility.

He said clubs are responsible for making sure their members are fit, able, and sober enough to drive home.

Gaskin said while most people have shown responsibility, others have not, but he refused to say which clubs were of concern.

‘‘During the year, police, along with liquor licensing staff and public health staff will be carrying out random checks to ensure all clubs are complying with the requirements of their licenses.

‘‘Last year similar checks showed that some clubs were not. The visits serve two purposes, firstly to educate, and also to police the requirements of a club licence.’’

With rugby under fire last year, Geraldine Rugby Club considered a club culture change.

Through a partnership with Community and Public Health it introduced healthier meal options, milk in the changing rooms after training instead of beer, making water more widely available on club premises, and removing alcohol advertising from the bar area.

Timaru Old Boys Rugby deputy chairperson Greg Brosnan said the club do not encourage drinking on the sidelines.

‘‘I applaud and admire the stance that Geraldine has taken but we don’t have those same issues.

‘‘All the country clubs have those issues because people have to drive half an hour or an hour to get to training or games.’’

New Geraldine Rugby Club president Glen Smith didn’t think being more rural was an issue.

‘‘It’s just one of the realities of living in a small town.

‘‘Aside from our responsibilities as club members, we certainly reinforce club rules around alcohol consumption.’’

Smith said the work with the Community and Public Health worked extremely well with the senior players last year.

Former GRC president Chris Fisher said in September that the Respect and Responsibility Review, which highlighted 36 cases of misconduct in New Zealand Rugby over the past four years, was more proof of the need for a culture change.

Brosnan said Old Boys don’t have the same issues because its club members have access to sober drivers and taxis, whereas country clubs may not.

‘‘As a club we watch what’s going on not just with alcohol consumption but with people’s general welfare and wellbeing.

‘‘We have a code of conduct that we put to the players every season about alcohol consumption.’’