League boss wants bars shut to fans

Kevin Tamati opposes the way "alcohol is normalised in sport". PHOTO / WARREN BUCKLAND

Rugby League Hawke's Bay chairman and former Kiwis rugby league international Kevin Tamati has urged the Government not to enable bars to be open for morning telecasts of Rugby World Cup matches.

Mr Tamati, a prop for the Kiwis from 1979-1985 and who turns 62 during the Rugby World Cup starting on September 18, expressed his opposition in a submission to the Parliamentary Justice and Electoral Committee on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Extended licensing hours during Rugby World Cup) Bill.

Now also a co-ordinator of CAYAD (Community Action Youth and Drugs), he says the Supply and Sale of Alcohol Act 2012 is a "good act", and a variation of the type sought for the five weeks of the cup "normalises an unhealthy connection between our sport and the consumption of alcohol".

"My beliefs have kept me away from use of alcohol but it has surrounded me in my sports career," he said. "I have seen so much talent wasted through use of alcohol and it has frustrated me to see wonderful young men like Zac Guildford have to struggle when they are absolutely surrounded by alcohol products through sponsorship and the way sport is almost automatically linked to alcohol.

"Alcohol is normalised in sport where, if you think about it from a performance point of view, sobriety should be the norm," Mr Tamati said.

"I try to normalise sobriety and delay the uptake of the use of intoxicants by young New Zealanders and to reduce the harm of alcohol and other drugs in general. Hawke's Bay is a young community and we have relatively high rates of alcohol linked harm."

"I think that the Supply and Sale of Alcohol Act is a good Act and I see it bedding in and helping us challenge and change the culture that endorses and encourages Kiwi binge drinking."

The All Blacks' pool matches are:

September 21 (Monday): v Argentina, 3.45am
September 25 (Friday): v Namibia, 7am
October 3 (Saturday): v Georgia, 8am
October 10 (Saturday): v Tonga, 8am

If the All Blacks keep winning, they will play a quarter-final on September 18 (Sunday) at 8am, a semifinal on September 25 (Sunday) at 5am, and the final on November 1 (Sunday) at 4am).