Women’s Rugby is leading a culture change for New Zealand by side-stepping alcohol branding in favour of sponsors that
send a healthy message.
The Blues, Hurricanes and Matatu franchises have committed to refusing alcohol branding sponsorships and have partnered
with Te Hiranga Hauora - The Health Promotion Agency in the upcoming Sky Super Rugby Aupiki league to display Quitstrong.nz branding.
QuitStrong is an established brand with an audience of wāhine Maori aged between 18-34 which promotes stop smoking
messages and supports harm minimisation caused by alcohol sponsorship.
Health Coalition Aotearoa’s Alcohol Expert Panel Co-Chair Professor Sally Casswell says the leadership shown by women’s
rugby to exclude alcohol advertising is commendable.
"These women are role models for New Zealand and now people can watch their sporting icons without being marketed
harmful alcoholic products at the same time," she said.
"Removing alcohol sponsorship from sports and major events is a priority policy that, evidence shows, will denormalise
the drinking culture prevalent within our national sport.
"Health Coalition Aotearoa is looking ahead to the forth coming review of our alcohol legislation and hopes the
Government will take action to restrict alcohol marketing in other areas.
" The Health Coalition Aotearoa sees this as a very welcome step in the right direction towards an Aotearoa New Zealand free from the marketing of
alcohol products," Casswell said.
"We hope the men’s teams can learn from the example shown by the women’s teams and help shift the drinking culture away
from our national sport."Alcohol factsAlcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditionsAlmost half of alcohol in Aotearoa/New Zealand is consumed in heavy drinking occasionsOne in four drinkers in Aotearoa/New Zealand is classified as a hazardous drinkerAt least 800 people in Aotearoa/New Zealand die prematurely from alcohol-related causes every year.NZ Police estimates that about half of serious violent crimes are related to alcohol.Estimated 1800 children born each year with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.One-third to one-quarter of suicides involve alcohol use disordersMāori children are more exposed to alcohol marketing in their school and residential neighbourhood compared with other
ethnic groupsMāori experience disproportionately higher levels of alcohol-related harm than other ethnic groups