Sports and Leisure Facilities for nondrinkers

topper75

How is it that sports facilities are never available on Saturday night, a time when I as a non-drinker would probably enjoy them most?

I suppose the tax the government gets out of a guy/girl playing indoor football or swimming doesn't compare to the tax generated by a person out drinking their head off.

One suspects the govt may not be serious about tackling the drink problem. I ain't anti-drink but I do think it is ridiculously hard in this country to find alternatives.

Sport is surely a far superior way to 'socialise' than standing around in a dark and noisy low-ceilinged firetrap repeating moronisms to each other.

NonDrinkersClub

Here's something that might interest you from our website http://www.nondrinkersgroup.com/events.html! You're totally right though - there aren't many sports clubs like this and there should be!

INDOOR FOOTBALL (Dublin)

Fridays @ 7pm-8pm , Belvedere College, Great Denmark Street, Dublin City (Link to Map)

Totally mixed gender, mixed ability and usually a great deal of fun! Play some light-hearted football for over an hour from 7pm - 8pm (but usually a bit longer). Proper goals, bibs and footballs provided. Join in on a 5 or 6 a side match. They're always grateful for more players on a Friday! This is open to both drinkers and non-drinkers but it's a nice alternative to a night out drinking. If anybody is interested please contact Gethin gethinwhite@hotmail.com so he can give you some more info and maybe put you on the mailing list. He sends out a weekly invitation to see how many people they will have for a match.

topper75

Thanks for this. I'm not based in Dublin myself but this is well worth advertising to those who are.

NonDrinkersClub

If you're not based in Dublin, why not do what those guys did and rent a sports hall for the evening? You can ask the players to pay a small donation to cover the cost or you might even get the place for free. If you're looking for players, you can advertise here and then maybe you could make up some posters for your local area. I can help you if you like? You should keep it open to drinkers and non-drinkers who are interested in going to a non-drinking event.

topper75

Ok - you planted a seed in my head. I work in Galway but usually go back to Limerick at weekends. I got to go on business to Germany for a few weeks but will make enquiries on my return. I suppose my initial gripe was sort of aimed at the problem of facilities closing around teatime on Sat evening. I couldn't book them anyway beyond this time even if I was to initiate a kick around. But that said, the 'if you build it they will come' philosophy makes sense. I'll have to show initiative.

Yes making it exclusive to non-drinkers would be silly. However it can be hard to attract drinkers for sports when they have the pub in mind later in the evening. Football, or whatever activity, would be seen as a break in the flow. None of my immediate buddies would be interested so I will have to stretch further afield. (The irony is most of these people would go all out in order to WATCH football and drink. Maybe it is a 30something thing!)

NonDrinkersClub

Maybe your friends might be more interested in coming along if they could go to the pub afterwards? That way, you don't have to go with them, but at least yiz still had a bit of a laugh without the drink Who knows, maybe they'll be too tired to go out drinking after.

Yuo sound like you have a busy schedule alright - but even as a one off I reckon you could do it.