“Our income is largely dependent on the beers sold in the canteen.” Henri Ekstijn of football club RKVV Wilhelmina from Den Bosch expresses the biggest objection of sports clubs to the idea of no longer serving alcohol in sports canteens. State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen launched this trial balloon in his fight to reduce alcohol consumption.
Full of disbelief, the 66-year-old chairman Ekstijn (66) listened to the plan for an alcohol-free canteen. “Then you begrudge many members a nice break on Sunday evening. It is also an important source of income for the club. We cannot afford to miss that.”
Five years ago, the Bossche football club Wilhelmina was one of the first associations that were completely smoke-free, so no cigarettes on the sidelines either.
“Sales of liquor provide half of our club budget.”
“That transition went quite smoothly, but this is different. That beer almost feels like a necessity of life,” says Ekstijn. “And yes, it helps that we were never financially dependent on the sale of cigarettes. The sale of liquor provides half of our club budget.”
On the other side of the province, the reaction is somewhat more sober. Piet van der Plas of football club DVO’66 in Roosendaal says he has many youth members. “Children are not allowed to drink anyway. Not a drop is drunk before 12 o’clock. That is never a problem. If there is a solution for all the lost income, I can imagine that alcohol will no longer be drunk at sports clubs in the future. “
“Only plastic glasses may be used outside.”
Roosendaal already has more restrictions for alcoholic drinks. Van der Plas: “We have a large path next to another club. Drinking is not allowed there and only plastic glasses may be used outside. This does not cause any problems.”
In Den Bosch, chairman Ekstijn really has to recover from the idea. “The fun disappears. It’s also fun with a coke, but it’s even more fun with a few beers. And make no mistake about the impact on the mutual connection,” says Ekstijn.
“For years we have had trouble finding volunteers.”
“For years we have had trouble finding volunteers. Now with a beer in hand you can more easily and uninhibitedly sound out someone who can contribute to the club as a volunteer. If we have to talk about e-mails that we send with calls, I see it gloomy.”
Good news for Ekstijn is that it is a trial balloon for the time being. After the summer, State Secretary Van Ooijen will present more detailed plans to reduce alcohol consumption.