Surfing Australia Signs Up To Help Tackle Binge Drinking

COOLANGATTA/QLD (17th April, 2013): Surfing Australia is proud to be the latest national sporting organisation to join the Australian Government’s Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking initiative.

Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking is addressing youth binge drinking and the influence of alcohol promotion on young Australians by promoting anti-binge drinking messaging through sport sponsorships.

Under the partnership, Be the Influence -Tackling Binge Drinking is now a major partner of Surfing Australia with ASP World Tour competitors Owen Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons becoming Be the Influence Surfing Ambassadors.

The sponsorship covers Surfing Australia’s six State branches and their 104 events conducted nationwide; and Surfing Australia’s Team Australia program, which sends seven teams to all of the International Surfing Association’s global events.

Surfing Australia CEO, Andrew Stark believes it is an ideal association for both organisations.

“This is a monumental partnership for our sport and will provide a serious boost to our various programs Australia-wide,” said Mr Stark.

“Importantly the powerful anti-binge drinking message that we will promote to our surfing community is something we all believe in.

“The partnership has touch points across our entire organisation from grassroots to elite. We are extremely appreciative of the support and look forward to a fantastic partnership.”

Surfing Australia board member and seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley said the partnership provided an enormous opportunity for the sport of surfing.

“This is a unique sponsorship, aligned with such an important message that can be embraced across all sports,” said Beachley.

“I feel Surfing Australia will provide the perfect platform to deliver the anti-binge drinking message to young Australians.”

Be the Influence will also become one of the major sponsors of the new Australian Boardriders Battle. The national series, to be officially launched in July, will involve Australia’s boardriding clubs in seven State qualifying events and culminating in a national final across two days in March, 2014.

The sponsorship also includes naming rights to two new national events: the Be the Influence Surf Pro, the fourth and final event of the 2013 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series, from 12th-14th July in NSW; and the Be the Influence Australian SUP and Paddleboard Titles in November. Also, naming rights to State events such as the upcoming Be the Influence Queensland Master’s and Women’s Surfing Series, which commences on May 18.

Be the Influence will be a support sponsor for the Australian Surf Festival and the Australian Junior Surfing Titles.

A total of 15 sports are now part of Be the Influence, including the Football Federation of Australia, Netball Australia, Basketball Australia and Swimming Australia.

Information on Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking can be found at www.tacklingbingedrinking.gov.au. The Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking sponsorship is managed through the Australian National Preventive Health Agency.

Source - http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8154:surfing-australia-signs-up-to-help-tackle-youth-binge-drinking&catid=98:sports&Itemid=218