Scotland- a future ban for drink sponsors in sport?
Football and rugby teams face being banned from advertising alcohol on players’ shirts and inside their stadiums following a review by the Scottish executive.
An expert group - whose members include doctors, health campaigners and members of the drinks industry- is expected to recommend that sponsorship deals struck between sports organisations and drinks companies be phased out.
Members of the Scottish Ministerial Advisory Committee on Alcohol Problems (SMACAP) agreed by a majority verdict that logos of drinks firms on sports strips were inappropriate when the executive is encouraging people to drink less.
The committee is expected to publish its findings in the autumn. It will recommend that current sponsorship deals be allowed to continue until the end of their contracts but should then be terminated.
Restrictions on alcohol advertising on sportswear would then be introduced over a number of years to give clubs and sporting organisations time to find alternative sponsors.
