Sports told to ditch junk food
WA's health promotion agency has warned three sporting groups still funded by alcohol or junk food companies that public opinion is against their sponsorship deals.
Healthway has written to the WA Football Commission, WA Little Athletics and Rugby WA, telling them they need to stop being "captive" to sponsors such as burger giant McDonald's.
Chairwoman Rosanna Capolingua said new independent market research showed most people supported the move by other sporting codes and groups to ditch alcohol and fast-food sponsors in return for Healthway funding.
A survey of 1012 West Australians last month by Painted Dog for the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Young People found 76 per cent support for the WA Cricket Association's recent move to take sponsorship money from Healthway instead of unhealthy sponsors.
Four out of five people surveyed also supported sports such as rugby union, the AFL and Little Athletics promoting healthy messages instead of alcohol and junk food.
Dr Capolingua said the number of WA sports that promoted alcohol and junk food through sponsorship agreements had reduced markedly over the past few years and there were now only a few that continued to do so.
"We would encourage those sports that have not yet moved on this to do so because public opinion will be clearly on their side," she said.
"I have written to the major sports that remain captive of alcohol and junk food sponsors to let them know about the latest survey results.
"In the end, it is the alcohol and junk food companies that should be ashamed of their tactics."
McCusker Centre director Mike Daube said the survey showed some sports were out of kilter with public opinion.
"Surely it is time for Little Aths and the AFL to give up their addiction to fast food and alcohol, and start promoting health instead," he said.
Two months ago, public health experts attacked WA Little Athletics' decision to continue accepting McDonald's sponsorship.
But the athletics group said McDonald's was a long-term partner and there had been very few complaints from parents.
