Parra to call last drinks

[bartman]

http://www.smh.com.au/national/skol-and-crossbones-for-binge-drinking-20090317-9111.html?page=-1

A very good read today... includes the snippet that the government is now pledged to a fund to help sports become less reliant on alcoholo sponsorship.

Problem drinking, particularly among people under 25, has become so endemic that yesterday six of the seven crossbench senators voted to support the Federal Government's controversial tax on ready-to-drink beverages, or alcopops, which was introduced in April last year.
The Greens and independent Nick Xenophon were won over after Labor promised to set aside an additional $50 million for an alcohol hotline and a fund so that sporting and community groups would not need to rely on liquor sponsorship.

To those of us old enough to remember, this seems a similar precursor to the days when tobacco advertising eventually became illegal, back 20 odd years ago when league once had the Rothman's Medal, the Craven Mild Cup, and of course the Winfield Cup. The game has survived without all of those, and if you fast forward 5 years, suddenly Denis' suggestion doesn't seem as outlandish as it might today.

 

[fish eel]

http://www.smh.com.au/national/skol-and-crossbones-for-binge-drinking-20090317-9111.html?page=-1

A very good read today... includes the snippet that the government is now pledged to a fund to help sports become less reliant on alcoholo sponsorship.

To those of us old enough to remember, this seems a similar precursor to the days when tobacco advertising eventually became illegal, back 20 odd years ago when league once had the Rothman's Medal, the Craven Mild Cup, and of course the Winfield Cup. The game has survived without all of those, and if you fast forward 5 years, suddenly Denis' suggestion doesn't seem as outlandish as it might today.

Maybe not
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1012239/Senate-votes-down-alcopop-tax

I'm home today, was watching the Senate earlier when the bill was being debated, Senator Fielding wasnt in the chamber. Not sure how it's progressed this arvo, just flicked back.

I made a note, either in this thread or another, at the start of Monday night football, the fox guys referred to 'Bundy Monday' and the Raiders went out with 'Local Liquor' on their sleeves. In that environment, there is no way an blanket alcohol ban would get up.

While Fitzy's suggestion, might not be practical, I do think it's a worthy starting point of discussion - rather than just knee jerking and bagging Fitzy for being, well, Fitzy.

edit: The tax package including what barty mentioned was just passed by one vote....what a debacle, a liberal senator just stood up and apologised for missing the vote and asked that they take it again. His vote would have tied it and voted it defeated it but he said he was in a stairwell having a meeting. Sheesh.