ONE of Scotland’s top women’s football teams have come out in support of a campaign to end alcohol sponsorship in Scottish sport.
Glasgow City FC have given their backing to the “Calling Time” campaign, led by the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) – which calls on the Scottish Government to implement a ban on alcohol sponsorship across all sport.
The campaign was launched on the back of a report which revealed Scotland was the country with the second highest proportion of alcohol sports sponsors across ten top flight football leagues in Europe.
The campaign is based on a wide body of evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing directly influences alcohol consumption – which in turn drives Scotland’s alcohol crisis.
It aims to remove exposure to alcohol marketing as a means to protect people.
Glasgow City’s chief executive Laura Montgomery said the club was “delighted” to show their support.
“As a club, our entire ethos is built around championing women and girls and we see no place for alcohol sponsorship or indeed at any football matches”, she said.
“In no way does alcohol promotion align with this and we hope as many other clubs as possible sign up to back the campaign.”
The club is one of a number of official supporters of the campaign alongside various supporters organisations and medical bodies.
Director of SHAAP Elinor Jayne said: “We need to see reasonable, evidenced measures such as a ban on sports sponsorship taken forward to repair our broken relationship with alcohol.
“I commend Glasgow City FC for their principled stance to reject alcohol sponsorship and we are proud to partner with them on our Calling Time campaign.
“Football and sports clubs must recognise their responsibility to fans, particularly in a nation facing a crisis with alcohol.
“Individuals who share our call to action should write to their MSPs using the function on our website.
“It takes less than a minute.”
