About Us

Alcohol and sport are historically closely linked in Australia. Most major sporting competitions and teams promote and advertise alcohol consumption and many sports clubs have a tradition of heavy drinking. A large number of clubs depend on revenue from alcohol to finance club activities.

The Good Sports program is an initiative of the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) to develop safer and healthier communities. The program helps sporting clubs manage alcohol responsibly and reduce alcohol related problems such as binge and underage drinking. Displaying the Good Sports logo sends an important message to club members and the community. It confirms that the club promotes a responsible attitude towards alcohol and that it provides a safe environment for players, members, families and supporters.

Evidence is growing which demonstrates that community-based sports clubs contribute to alcohol problems by accepting and promoting excessive drinking and providing inappropriate role models for young people.

A study of more than 500 young people found:

• more than 30% of 13-17 year olds had participated in unsupervised drinking at a sports club... 71% of these had never been asked for proof of age.[1]

Another survey among sporting club members found:

• 51% of drinkers at sports clubs are consuming alcohol at harmful or hazardous levels.[2]

A study of community football clubs in 2000 showed:

• 13% of 18-20 year olds drank 13 or more standard drinks each time they visited the club
• 83% left the club as the driver of a vehicle. [3]
• 70% of males (30% of females) believe drinking is an important tradition at their club.

Further research conducted in community sports clubs across Australia found:

• 20% of men aged 18-30 consume 10 or more standard drinks each time they visit the club. [4]

Good Sports clubs include angling, archery, athletics, Australian rules football, badminton, baseball, basketball, boating, bocce, callisthenics, canoeing, cricket, croquet, cycling, darts, fishing, go-karting, golf, gridiron, gymnastics, hockey, horse-racing, lacrosse, lawn bowls, martial arts, motor sports, netball, pony club, rowing, rugby league, rugby union, sailing, shooting, skydiving, soccer, softball, squash, surf lifesaving, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, volleyball and yachting, 

Good Sports is recognised in the community health sector for its extensive research.  The program is evidence-based and evaluation continues on an on-going basis.

[1] Survey conducted by Australian Drug Foundation, Centre for Youth Drug Studies (CYDS) 1994

[2] Survey conducted by CYDS 1999, Hazardous Levels as defined by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

[3] Survey conducted by CYDS 2000

[4] National Attitudes and Behaviours study-conducted by CYDS 2004