1.
PURPOSE
This policy outlines our procedures for safe
transport after club games, special events, functions and other club-related activities
where alcohol may be consumed. It represents our club’s commitment to its
members, volunteers and visitors, acknowledging the role that sporting clubs
and associations play in building strong and healthy communities.
This policy will help to ensure our club:
·
Meets
its duty of care in relation to the health and safety of our members,
volunteers and visitors who attend any club games, special events, functions
and other activities.
·
Upholds
the reputation of our club, our sponsors and partners.
·
Understands
the risks associated with alcohol use and driving, and our role in minimising risk.
·
Educates
our members about standard drinks.
2.
RATIONALE
Ensuring
members, visitors and guests getting to and from club games, activities and
events safely is an important part of being a responsible, healthy club.
While
PRFC wishes
to avoid club members becoming intoxicated and notes the recommendation by the National
Health and Medical Research Council to consume no more than four drinks in one
sitting, as part of our club’s duty
of care we encourage our members to plan safe transport home. This will reduce the
risk of drink-driving, injury or worse.
Alcohol
and drugs affect pedestrians and drivers’ abilities to stay safe. They affect
decision-making, reaction times, speed and distance judgements, concentration,
balance, perception and alertness. It can also increase risk-taking behaviour
by giving a pedestrian or driver a false sense of confidence.
Sporting
clubs such as ours help prevent drink driving related tragedies in the
community by improving safety around transport and minimising the risk of
developing a drinking culture.
3.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Our club recognises that:
·
Drink driving is one of the main causes of road deaths
in Australia.
·
Driving when over
the legal blood alcohol limit is illegal and hazardous to individuals and the
wider community.
·
Mixing drugs (including prescription medication) with
other drugs or alcohol can seriously affect the ability to drive safely.
4.
TRANSPORT FOR CLUB ACTIVITIES
This safe transport policy applies for all activities
undertaken by the club that involve the serving and/or consumption of alcohol.
Our club will:
·
Promote strategies that encourage members to plan how
they’ll get home safely before they go out e.g. pre-arranged transport.
·
Print safe transport messages on relevant club
activity and event invitations or flyers.
·
Ensure the MC for events or club committee members
advise attendees that the club is a Good Sports accredited club, communicate
the safe transport options and regularly remind attendees to behave responsibly
around alcohol.
·
Ensure telephone calls can be made free of charge to
call a sober person to provide transport from the club or venue.
Where available, our club will
also consider:
·
Use of a club or community bus (such as council,
school or tourist buses) and:
-
The bus or transport provided will be an alcohol-free
zone (i.e. no alcohol will be permitted on the bus).
-
The bus will not be used to transport members between
licensed venues.
-
People who have consumed alcohol can get home safely
from the bus drop off point
·
Use a range of taxi or ride share strategies such as:
-
Free telephone calls to arrange a taxi to provide transport
from the club or venue.
-
The club committee will pre-order taxis to arrive at a
club or venue at the conclusion of a club event or function.
-
Encourage club members to utilise a ride share service.
5.
CLUBS WITH A LIQUOR LICENCE FOR
ANY CLUB EVENTS OR FUNCTIONS
Our club will promote low alcohol and
non-alcoholic drinks as options and available at reduced prices.
Bar
staff/ servers of alcohol will encourage members, volunteers and visitors to:
·
Consume food while drinking alcohol at the club.
·
Consume alcohol in moderation bearing in mind our
commitment to the Good Sports program, its philosophies and policies.
·
Make alternate safe transport arrangements if they are
considered to be intoxicated or at risk of exceeding the legal limit (e.g. free
call to a taxi/friend/family).
CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS
Whilst
engaging in club activities, members, volunteers and visitors will:
·
Accept
responsibility for their own behaviour, use good judgment and take a
responsible approach towards alcohol consumption.
·
Encourage
and assist others to use good judgment regarding alcohol consumption.
·
Make alternative transport arrangements to get to and
from the activity safely.
·
Share a taxi or ride share (where available) with
friends.
·
Consider arranging overnight accommodation.
6.
PROMOTING THIS POLICY
Our
club will:
·
Educate
members, volunteers and guests about our policy and the benefits of having such
a policy.
·
Implement
strategies to create awareness of safe transport messages to club members (e.g.
display standard drink posters/ cards to help patrons recognise what standard
drinks are and the implications on drink driving).
·
Ensure
this policy is easily accessible and will promote it via [our website, newsletters, social media, announcements during events
and functions].
7.
POLICY REVIEW
This
policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant to club
operations and reflects both community expectations and legal requirements.