Is drinking really a sport?
Drunken disgrace. That’s probably most of you on tour this year. No? The annual university sport tours that take place every year often quickly degenerate into just another drunken jolly. It is seemingly becoming more and more about who can drink the fastest, chunder the highest and recover the strongest than about the sport.
With many of York’s own sports teams taking their own tours this past Easter, we can only beg the question; how much sport was really played? Saloufest is the place of choice this year, its billed as the ‘biggest student sports festival’, however most participants seem intent on several days of boozing rather than playing.
But despite there being inter-university tournaments on during the day it frequently seems to become a competition to see who can drink the most the fastest, with students necking back shot after shot. Even those who make it to the field of play are trying to piece together the night before while dealing with the hangover from hell. Others meanwhile are setting up the next drinking game for as soon as sport is finished for the day.
Not dismissing the fact that sports tours are great for the camaraderie of a team and strengthening the bonds within the group, frequently this camaraderie goes way too far, and in fact may exclude those who don’t feel comfortable in such an environment.
There needs to be a change in the mind-set of how we approach sports tours. Many expect round-the-clock drinking, parties and if they’re lucky, a cheeky pull. A traditional sports tour focuses on the sport. I’m not saying that going out and having a few drinks isn’t fine, but does it really need to be taken to an excessive level?
In a modern society where binge drinking and unruly behaviour is so common the ’what goes on tour, stays on tour’ attitude will no doubt live on. However in a modern, competitive sporting environment, does this cut it anymore?
I met the author of this article at a party once. She was extremely drunk, and tried to hit on me in a very unsubtle manner. I doubt she has a standing point from which to criticize our alcoholic culture.