LEARNING TO ‘CALM THE FARM’ IN FOOTY FINALS
It’s an exciting and busy time of year in the hospitality industry as Clubs and pubs ramp up for the footy finals, Spring Racing Carnival, and before we know it…Christmas parties!
It’s also a time when RGOs, Licensees, and front-line hospitality staff, need to find the right balance between encouraging footy fans to enjoy themselves, but staying extra vigilant with harm minimisation of patrons in their venues.
Research from Edith Cowan University indicted that coverage of major sporting events, such as the AFL Grand Final, increased the reach of alcohol advertisements and their potential to significantly increase alcohol cravings in people with risky drinking behaviours.
Another Australian study in 2023 explored the drinking habits of footy fans and concluded that drinking during a big game was heavier when watching it at a pub, especially if it’s with mates. Interestingly, when participants watched the game at a stadium or pub, higher risk drinking was more likely when games began in the early‐afternoon (1–3 pm) than late‐afternoon (3–6 pm). Pre‐drinking was more likely before night games and post‐drinking was more likely after day games.
A link from major sporting events to playing gaming machines in Clubs is less clear. However, The National Gambling Trends Study found a large proportion of younger males who play gaming machines have an online betting account and half of all gaming machine players regularly participate in sports and horse racing gambling. Similarly, the study found that most men who gambled spent money on multiple activities, including gaming machines, sports betting and horse racing.
With more people visiting Clubs and pubs during the footy finals and Spring Racing Carnival, the more people there are who will “feel lucky” or will want to celebrate their team’s victory, so the incidence of gambling or alcohol harm is only likely to increase.
CTA Training Specialists now provides NSW Licensee Training (LT), and NSW Advanced Licensee Training (ALT) which ensures licensees, approved managers, and Club secretaries have the necessary skills and resources to help their staff spot the signs of footy fans who may be taking their celebrations, or commiserations, too far.
CTA Training Specialists also offer RCG Course NSW and Advanced RCG (ARCG) training designed to bring RGOs up to speed with the practical skills required to identify problem gamblers, whether they are footy fans or not, so they are more confident and can be relied on to effectively provide help to those in need.
Click here to find out more about the harm minimisation course options from CTA Training Specialists.
