Baseball League to Tackle Binge Drinking
The Australian Baseball Federation and the Australian Baseball League have formed a landmark partnership to sign up to the Be the Influence: Tackling Binge Drinking campaign.
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Joint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform
Senator The Hon Kate Lundy
Minister for Sport
1 November 2012The Australian Baseball Federation and the Australian Baseball League have formed a landmark partnership to sign up to the Be the Influence: Tackling Binge Drinking campaign.
Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler and Sport Minister Kate Lundy today trained with members of the Canberra Cavalry to mark the new partnership which is part of the Gillard Government’s National Binge Drinking Strategy.
“Sports that sign up to the initiative receive sponsorship funding from the Australian Government and agree to remove alcohol sponsorship from their code,” Mr Butler said.
“It’s a great way for sports like baseball to access an alternative form of sponsorship to alcohol sponsorship while at the same time using athletes to promote a positive health message young people.”
“The athletes carry a positive message about a healthy lifestyle and a responsible approach to drinking which we know is a powerful way of influencing young people.”
Senator Lundy said with Australian Baseball now joining the sponsorship program a total of 14 national sporting organisations will now display and promote the Be the Influence branding and message.
“It’s great to add baseball to the list of national sporting organisations, including Netball Australia, Basketball Australia and Swimming Australia, who have joined up to this important sponsorship program to address binge drinking and the influence of alcohol promotion on young people,” Senator Lundy said.
“With baseball growing in popularity in Australia and participation numbers building, this sponsorship partnership provides the government with a wonderful opportunity to promote a positive health message directly to young fans of the sport.”
Australian Baseball League CEO Peter Wermuth said the sport is thrilled to join up to the initiative.
"The Australian Baseball League is very excited about our new partnership as it perfectly aligns with the Australian Baseball League’s goal of providing a fun, family-friendly environment at games,” Mr Wermuth said.
The funding, out of the $25 million government sponsorship initiative, aims to promote a responsible drinking message – particularly with young people.
The Australian Baseball Federation is the governing body for all levels of baseball throughout the country.
The Australian Baseball League is Australia's premier professional baseball competition, showcasing the best of Australian’s emerging baseball stars as well as offering a highly competitive alternative offseason league for Australian and international players competing in northern hemisphere leagues, including Major League Baseball in the United States.
The new sponsorship agreement acts strictly as an alternative to alcohol sponsorship at Australian Baseball League games and does not affect the pourage rights and service of alcohol at stadiums and events during the season.
For more information, contact the Minister’s office on 02 6277 7280
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