Binge drinking's a dangerous GAAme

Concern over county stars' relationship with alcohol

- DARRAGH MCDONAGH

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

The research paper published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science yesterday 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.