Harmful drinking culture among elite GAA players, study finds

A harmful drinking culture exists among intercounty GAA players, a new study has found, citing widespread excessive alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and binge drinking.

The research paper published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science on Monday analysed the comments of 111 elite GAA players in response to a survey on alcohol use and culture at intercounty level.

Drinking bans and the practice of binge drinking following long periods of abstinence were recurring themes in the feedback, with one player describing this as a culture of “full duck or no dinner”.

Others suggested the link between GAA and alcohol was fostered from an early age, with one player claiming to have seen children “as young as 11 or 12″ drinking during county final celebrations.

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The authors of the study said the culture that exists in elite GAA was “of drinking to excess as opposed to in moderation”.

“Some respondents suggested that, due to being unable to drink in moderation throughout the year, they over-indulge in the off season,” they wrote.

Drinking bans were “a frequent topic of discussion” in players’ comments, and their opinion of this practice was “overwhelmingly negative” in 97 per cent of the responses.

“It was felt they create a culture of binge drinking when the ban lifted and can create mistrust amongst teammates and management,” the study noted.

One player described bans as “detrimental” and explained that they “encourage binge-drinking insofar as they stop you drinking for a long period, so you feel obliged to get as much out of a session as you can”.

A number of respondents said there was a preferable attitude to alcohol in other sports, such as rugby or soccer. “In particular, rugby was felt to have a healthier approach,” the authors stated.

One player claimed professional athletes could “go for their few drinks” whenever they liked without any consequences. “When an amateur athlete who gives up his or her free time goes for a few drinks, they are blackened by the GAA community,” the player added.

Of the 111 intercounty players surveyed, eight said there was “no issue” with alcohol in the GAA. Meanwhile, seven mentioned the “positive effects” of alcohol in the sport, citing team cohesiveness and the need for players to “blow off some steam”.

The authors of the study – who are based at University Hospital Limerick, University College Dublin, Children’s Health Ireland, and Washington Street Medical Centre in Cork – concluded that “a harmful drinking culture exists within elite GAA”.

They said a “varied approach” involving grassroots GAA members, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and governmental initiatives is required to combat its effect.