Heavy beer, ‘junk food’ ordered off sports menus Cats legend slams bid to ‘regulate’ club food

Alex de Vos
Bans on full-strength beer and junk food in local sport clubs are another example of authorities trying to control private lives, according to Cats legend Sam Newman.
The 300-gamer and outspoken media personality slammed the State Government’s $2 million campaign to turn 100 clubs across the region into “healthier places”.
Mr Newman believed that deciding whether to drink full-strength beer or eat a pie should be up to individuals, not regulators.
The Government should “get the hell out of (our) lives”, he said.
“Responsible drinking and responsible eating is essential and it should be left to the individual,” Mr Newman said.
“The more you have the Government and council telling people what they should and shouldn’t do the more likely you are to have your life run by people with no authority to do so.”
The Government’s VicHealth announced the new campaign to clean up food canteens and kitchens this week. VicHealth said clubs would be “required to meet standards relating to the responsible use of alcohol, healthy eating and reduced tobacco use”.
The campaign has ordered the participating clubs to halt the sale of heavy beer and increase the price of spirits by 20 per cent.
Clubs must also replace at least three junk foods labelled “red”, such as pies and soft drinks, with three healthy alternatives, which have been termed “green”.
Mr Newman said the plan was another example of the Government interfering with people’s lives.
“One of the luxuries of life is being able to sometimes have a drink and sometimes eat junk food,” he said.
“Australia is one of the most overregulated countries in the world and I don’t understand why people want to intrude in other people’s lives – you’re responsible for your own actions.”
VicHealth chief executive officer Todd Harper said the “incentive-based program” was designed to make sporting clubs “healthier places”.
The program was not “about banning alcohol and junk food from all community clubs”, Mr Harper said.
“It’s about supporting sports clubs to identify parts of their culture they can improve, so that they’re healthy, safe, welcoming places without too much emphasis on booze and fast food.”
Mr Harper said the plan followed a recent VicHealth survey finding that most Victorians would like to see an end to junk food and alcohol sponsorship of local sports clubs “provided there are funds to replace lost revenue”.
“It’s very important to realise that an overwhelming majority of Victorians support moving away from junk food and alcohol sponsorship of community sports,” Mr Harper said.
Geelong and District Football League president Neville Whitley backed the campaign.
“We’d be in favour of anything that makes sport clubs healthier but we don’t want a gun held to their heads either, ” he said.