Smoking, Alcohol & Drugs Policy

Rationale

Legislation and the legal duty of care provide clear reasons to have a totally smokefree club. Going totally smokefree will help our club comply with these responsibilities and provide a healthier club environment.

Amended Tobacco Act 1987 (VIC): bans smoking within 10 metres of an outdoor public sporting venue during an organised underage sporting event. Playgrounds are also now permanently smokefree.

Common law: the club has a legal duty to ensure that employees, volunteers, members, spectators, players, officials and visitors are not exposed to potentially harmful situations.

Role Modelling: can have a significant impact on the junior members of the club. A smokefree policy can make smoking less visible and less socially acceptable, whilst creating a healthier and more attractive environment for new members and sponsors.

Effects on others: Second-hand smoke is considered irritating and hazardous to the health of other people, even when outdoors. Children may be at risk of swallowing discarded cigarette butts, which may cause symptoms of nicotine poisoning such as vomiting.

Smokefree Areas: may support people who are trying to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption. They also help reduce cigarette butt litter and reduce fire risks.

Accordingly, the following smokefree policy has been developed by Mount Martha JFC.

Who is affected by the policy

This policy applies to all members, administrators, officials, coaches, players, spectators, visitors and volunteers of the Mount Martha JFC at all times.

Timing

This policy is effective from 14.6.16

Smokefree areas

The Mount Martha JFC requires the entire area of the Mount Martha JFC Ground & Facility to be smokefree. This includes:

all indoor areas (Victorian legislation states that enclosed workplaces must be smokefree)

all outdoor playing/training/dining/drinking areas

spectator viewing areas

car parks

in vehicles that are within the boundary of the sporting ground

Where possible, the smokefree status of our club will be clearly signed at the entrance to, and within the club grounds.

Smokefree areas will be promoted in club materials from time to time.

De-normalising smoking

Members of Mount Martha JFC are to refrain from smoking while they are acting in an official capacity for the club or while in club uniform, even when at away games.

Supporting members who smoke

Mount Martha JFC may on occasion promote smoking cessation resources such as the Quitline on club materials.

Following the policy

There is strong community support for banning smoking in public places, particularly those regularly attended by children. This means most people will voluntarily comply with the smoking ban and expect others to do so.

Should a person be smoking in our club grounds, the matter should be referred to the President or Secretary of the Club.

Should the President or Secretary of the Club choose toapproach a person who is smoking in a smokefree area, they should:

Assume that the person is unaware of the policy.

Politely ask them to stop smoking and let them know about the club’s smokefree policy.

Let them know about the Mount Martha JFC ’s decision to go completely smokefree

If unresolved, refer the incident to the club committee.

Sale of tobacco products

The Mount Martha JFC will not sell tobacco products.

Policy review

This policy will be reviewed six months after its introduction and then on an annual basis thereafter. This will ensure that the policy remains current and practical.

The Mount Martha Junior Football Club will promote a friendly, safe and enjoyable environment, free from alcohol at all junior events. The MMJFC will promote responsible adult use of alcohol at any adult social events and adhere to Liquor Licensing requirements.

The consuming of alcohol is prohibited in all indoor & outdoor areas of the Club & grounds during junior sporting activities/events. Alcohol can only be consumed by adults after the completion of events but not before at least one half hour after the final game for that day has been played.

Discouraging excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol e.g. happy hours, drinking competitions and encourage the consumption of low alcohol beverages.

Prohibit the consumption of alcohol by any person who is under the age of 18 years when participating in any Club activities.

Promoting non-alcoholic drinks.

Not allow participants under the influence of alcohol to participate in training or matches, in order to prevent harm to themselves and other participants.

The Mount Martha Junior Football Club will actively seek to promote, encourage and support strategies to minimise harm from drug use for all participants at all levels.

Where possible the MMJFC will:

Ensure that any prescribed medications are administered under a parent’s supervision when needed and according to their directions.

Discourage the use of medications in respect of injury/recovery that would enable a participant to compete where they would not otherwise be able.

Educate participants regarding the potential harm of using prohibited or banned substances through the delivery of drugs in sport information.

Ban the use of illegal drugs at all activities by players, coaches, officials and volunteers.

Not allow participants under the influence of illegal drugs to participate in training or matches, in order to prevent harm to themselves and other participants.

Breaches of the policy will be addressed through the Club Committee. This policy will be actively promoted by the Club and reviewed annually. Anyone wishing to disc