Home > Varadkar remains uneasy about banning alcohol sponsorship of sport.

[thejournal.ie] Varadkar remains uneasy about banning alcohol sponsorship of sport. (21 Oct 2012)

External website: http://www.thejournal.ie/leo-varadkar-alcohol-spon...

THE CABINET MINISTER responsible for sport in Ireland has again expressed reservations at proposals to outlaw sponsorship of sporting events by alcohol companies.

Leo Varadkar, whose tourism brief also includes responsibility for sport, has said a legal ban on alcoholic sponsorship of sports events would have negative consequences for both sport and tourism.

“One of the goals of my Department is to contribute to a healthier and more active society by promoting sports participation,” Varadkar said, in response to parliamentary questions from FG’s Anthony Lawlor and FF’s John McGuinness.

“However, it is important that funding is available to sports organisations to ensure that sport is maintained at grassroots level so that as many people as possible can participate.”

Varadkar said he also believed sport actively helped divert young people away from alcohol, and that this role was dependant on the financial support that sporting organisations secured through sponroship.


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