By Brett Stubbs
`I don't think it will have anything to do with the reduction of consumption of alcohol. ``Clubs will always consume alcohol, they will just have to find additional ways to generate revenue from sponsorship. ``The winners will be the breweries because they won't have to sponsor clubs, and clubs will still drink alcohol.'' In Tasmanian football Boags sponsors the NTFL and the NTFA, and TSL clubs Burnie, Devonport and South Launceston. Cascade, owned by Foster's, sponsors AFL Tasmania, the SFL, the Old Scholars and the ODFA, and TSL clubs North Launceston and Launceston. Wade would not reveal how much AFL Tasmania's sponsorship deal with Foster's was worth, except to say it was a ``considerable amount'' and would have a detrimental effect on the sport if it was lost. ``Foster's, like all our investors, contributes to the development of the game,'' he said. ``The impact would be there'd be less we could invest in the development of the game in Tasmania.'' Cascade also sponsors the Tasmanian cricket team, the Tigers, but the TCA declined to comment yesterday. The proposed ban, to be phased in, might not have a major impact on Tasmanian clubs because most of the brewery sponsorships with football clubs are not branding but product placement. The clubs receive a small cheque up front, but most make their money from rebates on sales of the breweries' exclusive products. ``At the end of the day I don't think the suggestion will have any impact on the consumption of alcohol in sporting clubs,'' Wade said. ``All it will do is have a financial impact. ``And all the breweries could do is discount their product, which, for all intents and purposes, is a different way of sponsoring.'' Wade said club education in relation to responsible serving and consumption of alcohol was a better tool than banning sponsorship. AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the proposed ban would cripple football.
Last Modified on 20/07/2009 09:21