Doctors call for ban on alcohol firms from sponsoring sports clubs, events

Doctors have urged ministers to put a ban on alcohol firms from sponsoring sports clubs and events, as they fear that the "outrageous" practice is fuelling underage drinking by children.

Leaders of Britain's nurses and A and E specialists said that deals like Everton and Celtic's beer and cider tie-ups not only fuel underage drinking because alcohol sponsorship of sport has become "as commonplace as advertising for cereal or soap powder". he leaders of Britain's nurses, A and E specialists and hospital doctors are among those urging ministers to outlaw the sort of deals that have seen Everton and Celtic football clubs agree multimillion pound tie-ups to advertise beer and cider brands on the front of their players' shirts.

The doctors want the government to intervene, and claim that public opinion supports introducing a ban on alcohol advertising of sport and want alcohol sports sponsorship to become a thing of the past.