Sports to ditch alcohol sponsorships

The Federal Government announced today that it will give major sporting bodies money to encourage them to reject alcohol promotion.

Twelve of the nation's largest sporting organisations have opted to ditch alcohol sponsorship, including Swimming Australia, the Football Federation of Australia and Netball Australia.

Sports Minister Kate Lundy says the $25 million in funding is part of the government's national binge drinking strategy.

'The government is partnering with key sporting organisations to drive a responsible drinking message, particularly with young people,' she said.

Professor Mike Daube, co-chair of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol, says this is an important step towards combating youth drinking culture.

'We need this kind of action. In modern Australia binge drinking among young people has become the norm. This needs action, and the first place to start is with the examples being set by governments and sporting bodies.'

The AFL and NRL have shunned the government initiative, by not agreeing to cut alcohol sponsorship for sporting events.

das racist ginger white conrad murray sentencing conrad murray sentencing urban meyer adam shulman adam shulman