The new plans of State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen for a total ban on alcohol in sports canteens have major consequences for club life on Texel. “You bring sports clubs into big trouble,” says chairman Gert Pansier of Sports Foundation Texel. According to him, the income is necessary to keep the associations going. “The third half remains important,” he says.
State Secretary Van Ooijen has drawn up a long list of new restrictions to reduce alcohol consumption. He is seeking support for this in the House of Representatives. “This also means less income in the hospitality industry,” says Pansier. The canteen of the TXL sports hall is open five evenings a week on average. Not only for sports, but also other associations use the canteen.
By closing the beer tap, the operating deficit of the sports hall will also increase. “And there will also be fewer visitors,” says Pansier. He thinks the ‘third half’ is important. “Sports is a social event. Then you can say that sport cannot be combined with alcohol. I think that’s a bad argument. Because this gets sports clubs into big trouble.”
“I think this is patronizing from the top shelf”
Most of the audience is in the sports hall on Friday evening when Texel’s first futsal team plays. The team plays in the Premier League. At a home game, about 275 supporters are in the stands. “They don’t all go into the canteen afterwards,” says Pansier. “And not everyone drinks alcohol either. But if alcohol is banned, you miss out on a large part of the income. I think this is patronizing from the top shelf.”
The chairman indicates that visitors can decide for themselves whether or not they drink alcohol. “We also serve a lot of non-alcoholic beer. That is a good alternative. And that demand is increasing.” But if it is up to Van Ooijen, alcohol marketing in sports should also stop, also for 0.0 beer.
Sports Foundation Texel receives an annual subsidy from the municipality of Texel for the operation of the sports hall. “The exploitation also includes the income from the catering industry,” says Pansier. And less income means a higher subsidy. “The canteen is open five or six days a week. Usually until midnight. We have a turnover of about 75,000 euros per season. That is a lot of money.” Pansier does not take the proposed measure too seriously. “I think a test balloon is being released here. And then we will see how people react to this.”
“It shows an ‘ivory tower vision’ with little empathy for the pleasure and relaxation of the athletes”
“Based on the radio and the newspaper headlines, the plan to ban alcohol consumption in sports canteens seems to me to be pure government patronage,” says Wouter Kuip, board member of sports association De Koog. “It also shows an ‘ivory tower vision’ with little empathy for the enjoyment and relaxation of athletes.” According to Kuip, the associations for the villages have a major social and cultural function. According to him, that would disappear if this measure is implemented.
“It is often a substantial source of income for many amateur sports clubs,” says Kuip. De Koog now has two teams. If it is no longer possible to drink a beer after the game, the enthusiasm for the sport also decreases. The association also organizes major tournaments with clubs from the mainland, where beer is also served.
“I think this measure will have a waterbed effect,” says Kuip. “People will continue to have a drink, but probably in a different place. Alcohol consumption will not decrease much as a result.”
“It’s like firing a cannon at a mosquito and doing a lot of damage”
De Koog desperately needs that income in order to survive. According to Kuip, the measure has resulted in many amateur associations no longer being able to keep their heads above water. “People stop playing sports. The result is that associations, forced or not, can no longer exist. It is like shooting a cannon at a mosquito, resulting in major damage. Finally, you also provide extra and unnecessary enforcement work for volunteers. But those volunteers are what the clubs need so much.”
Kuip comes to the conclusion: “Government, count your profit. I can’t imagine that this proposal can count on a majority.”
Change clothes in the cafe
Chairman Jan Bloem of sports association Oosterend also indicates that the proposed measure ‘destroys a lot’. “There is still as much alcohol in a beer as it was 20 years ago,” he says. “Nothing has changed. But with this they influence many sports associations, which is quite worrying.”
Oosterend has two senior teams and a number of youth teams. “Football also includes a third half,” says Bloem. “And not only in football. But we also have a beer at board meetings afterwards. If that is no longer there, there is a chance that people will stop.”
“If we are no longer allowed to drink alcohol, then we should go to the cafe in our village. Then we will also change there and do the third half there,” Bloem concludes with a smile.