August 31, 2015
Alcohol link to rugby unhealthy
A former rugby league international says legislation allowing bars to open throughout Rugby World Cup games is normalising an unhealthy connection between sport and alcohol.
Kevin Tamati, who now works as a coordinator for Community Action on Youth and Drugs in Hawke’s Bay, says he’s disappointed Maori leaders didn’t speak out against the bill.
He says it’s sad to think that people feel they need to go to bars at three in the morning to watch a game of rugby.
After recently passing a law reducing the alcohol limit for drivers, it seems dumb for politicians to then promote drinking.
"I just get frustrated when they keep making, as far as I am concerned, dumb rules that do open our people up for more accidents, more problems around the consumption of alcohol and where they end up," Mr Tamati says.
He has seen many sports people fail to reach their potential because they got caught up in the heavy drinking culture surrounding many team sports.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN TAMATI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MzE4NjM=
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