The impact of alcohol management practices on sports club membership and revenue

• Published in: Health promotion journal of Australia Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 159 - 161
• Main Authors: Wolfenden, L., Kingsland, M., Rowland, B., Dodds, P., Sidey, M., Sherker, S., Wiggers, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 150 Oxford Street, Collingwood, 3066, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia CSIRO Publishing 01.08.2016; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Accreditation; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol related; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Alcohols; Athletic clubs; Athletic recruitment; Certification; Clubs; College football; Demographics; Drinking of alcoholic beverages; Female; Finance; Funding; Health promotion; Health Promotion - economics; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Health Promotion - standards; Humans; Implementation; Income; Intervention; Male; Management; Membership; Negotiation; Organizational Policy; Organizations - economics; Organizations - organization & administration; Participation; Prevention; Public Facilities - economics; Public Facilities - organization & administration; Public health; Revenue; Rugby; Social aspects; Spectators; Sports; Sports & recreation clubs; Studies; Teams; Telephone surveys; Treatment programs; Viability; Australia; United Kingdom > UK; England
• ISSN: 1036-1073; 2201-1617
• DOI: 10.1071/HE15124

Issue addressed: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an alcohol management intervention on community sporting club revenue (total annual income) and membership (number of club players, teams and spectators). Methods: The study employed a cluster randomised controlled trial design that allocated clubs either an alcohol accreditation intervention or a control condition. Club representatives completed a scripted telephone survey at baseline and again 3 years following. Demographic information about clubs was collected along with information about club income. Results: Number of players and senior teams were not significantly different between treatment groups following the intervention. The intervention group, however, showed a significantly higher mean number of spectators. Estimates of annual club income between groups at follow-up showed no significant difference in revenue. Conclusions: This study found no evidence to suggest that efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm in community sporting clubs will compromise club revenue and membership.