Young farmers or young idiots
The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) has condemned as outrageous a drinking competition designed to find ‘the last man’ standing.
The competition, planned as part of an event to be held this weekend by the Mid Canterbury District Young Farmers, challenges participants to see if they ‘can handle the pace’ as participants drink one standard drink each seven minutes to see who will be the last man standing.
“This sort of promotion would be shut down in a second if it was on licensed premises,†says ALAC acting Chief Executive Officer Sandra Kirby. “Unfortunately this event is on private property, and therefore has to rely on the responsibility and common sense of the organisers – which it is obvious in this case is decidedly lacking.â€Â
The flyer promoting the event says participants must bring along their choice of alcoholic drink – the only exception is if they can prove they are the sober driver. Participants take part in a rotation and must take one standard drink each time they pass the platform entry point, which ALAC has been told is every seven minutes. Food is not allowed while the competition is on; the rules state ‘eating’s, cheating’.
“What sort of message is this sending to young people and the community in general both about acceptable drinking behaviour and about the type of organisation that is promoting this?
“New Zealand has a binge drinking culture that results in significant personal, social and economic harm. To see an organisation such as young farmers promoting behaviour that can be so destructive to their age group in particular is disappointing.
“I actually thought, and I think most New Zealanders would agree, that we were past this type of behaviour.â€Â
The competition, planned as part of an event to be held this weekend by the Mid Canterbury District Young Farmers, challenges participants to see if they ‘can handle the pace’ as participants drink one standard drink each seven minutes to see who will be the last man standing.
“This sort of promotion would be shut down in a second if it was on licensed premises,†says ALAC acting Chief Executive Officer Sandra Kirby. “Unfortunately this event is on private property, and therefore has to rely on the responsibility and common sense of the organisers – which it is obvious in this case is decidedly lacking.â€Â
The flyer promoting the event says participants must bring along their choice of alcoholic drink – the only exception is if they can prove they are the sober driver. Participants take part in a rotation and must take one standard drink each time they pass the platform entry point, which ALAC has been told is every seven minutes. Food is not allowed while the competition is on; the rules state ‘eating’s, cheating’.
“What sort of message is this sending to young people and the community in general both about acceptable drinking behaviour and about the type of organisation that is promoting this?
“New Zealand has a binge drinking culture that results in significant personal, social and economic harm. To see an organisation such as young farmers promoting behaviour that can be so destructive to their age group in particular is disappointing.
“I actually thought, and I think most New Zealanders would agree, that we were past this type of behaviour.â€Â