It seems like every second week there’s a sports star or celebrity making in the media for making a spectacle of themselves on alcohol.
Just recently in the AFL, Richmond suspended four players for ‘bad behaviour’ at their Sydney hotel after the game. Defender Daniel Conner was hit with a hefty 8-week suspension for ‘unsociable behaviour’ while being drunk.
Apart from alcohol being frowned upon for footy players in terms of the effect it has on the body’s ability to perform and recover, there’s a widespread belief in the community that elite sportspeople are role models (whether they want to be or not), particularly to children and young people.
Indeed, a survey of more than 2000 British adults found that adults rated David Beckham as the top role model for children.
But what does the evidence actually say about whether or not sportspeople influence our own behaviour?
A recent survey of more than 1000 Australian university students found that we actually aren’t influenced by the drinking habits of sportspeople. The research in fact found the more alcohol young people perceive sports stars to drink, the less alcohol they actually drink themselves.
So, just because a footy player might binge drink, doesn’t mean we automatically do the same. Perhaps ‘adults’ or the wider community don’t give us enough credit for being able to make our own decisions about how much we drink.
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Elise Maree
over 1 year ago
Being a young person myself and a university student, sports players have never influence my level of drinking. I do believe young people today aren't given enough credit with society suggested sports players are the reason young people drink so much. In addition, the public usually only hear of sports players drinking too much when a fight or arguement has developed and someone is hurt. I highly doubt after hearing this young people feel the need to follow in their footsteps.
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mrjko
over 1 year ago
I agree Elisa, i think majority of young people are more than aware of the responsiblities ascociated with drinking.Young people who attend school, sports etc are well versed through the education programs that are provided.
However i believe that high profile sportsstars carry a huge responsiblity to be a good role model more so to younger children who idolise these guys.Sports stars especially AFL and NRL are paid huge salaries, and part of that is being an upstanding citizen and it is great to see that the higher powers hold these athletes accountable, and have questions to answer when they go astray.
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