A new study has found that a harmful drinking culture exists within intercounty GAA teams – even though there are often bans on drinking.
The research paper published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science on Monday interviewed 111 elite GAA players, who said children “as young as 11 or 12″ drink during county final celebrations.
The study found that players have “overwhelmingly negatively” opinions of drinking bans in teams as they create a “binge drinking culture”.
Former Mayo footballer David Brady told Lunchtime Live the study from clinical professionals should raise questions about the success of drinking bans.
“It’s hard for intercounty players,” he said. “it's hard to live a normal life when you're in the middle of training for two or three months.”
"What about a fried chicken ban?"
He said when he was a player, they were told, “you don’t go out, don’t go near a pub, don’t interact in any shape or form for seven or weeks.”
Mr Brady said players shouldn’t have to “starve themselves of interaction and a few beverages” or “become a hermit” because of the sport.
He said drinking bans “have no role to play” anymore.
“What about a fried chicken ban, or a ban on chips,” Mr Barry said. “You should give the players ownership of it, so they know when it’s time to have a pint. You know about healthy living and healthy eating.”
"Mature enough"
Former Rathdowney-Erill GAA Chair Tim Barry said he wasn’t in favour of a drinking ban, having never introduced a ban himself.
“My experience with teams over the years would be that players are sensible enough,” he said. “Players are nowadays mature enough to go out and have a couple pints and leave it.”
“They police themselves,” he said.
He said players deserve to “celebrate” if they have an important win and don’t drink to excess in his experience.
"Team building"
Westmeath player Luke Loughlin said in his experience, players drink after a match “win, lose or draw”.
“They’re going to blow either way,” he said.
He said drinking usually rolls into “day two” when GAA players go out.
“They celebrate by going out for a few days,” he said. “I don’t drink anymore, but I was at the front of it.”
Mr Loughlin said the drinking ban aims to “builds togetherness” rather than restricting players.
“You can go a few weeks without drinking, but the ban is so much more that you’re in it together, you’re doing things the right way,” he said.
He also said if you drink at the weekend, you won’t be able to train properly.
“It’s down to the individual that you look after yourself,” he said. “But it’s more so a team thing, these bans.”
