Doctors have criticised the GAA for renewing its sponsorship deal with Guinness.
GAA president Nickey Brennan yesterday announced that the drinks maker would remain the title sponsors of the hurling championship until the end of 2007.
Guinness has invested over €25 million in an 11-year relationship, but the current contract is due to expire this year. The GAA have extended it by 12 months to facilitate a review of their sponsorship strategy.
But the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said today yesterday's decision "makes a mockery of the GAA's expressed concern about alcohol-related harm".
Former president Dr Joe Barry said: "The GAA is our largest and most influential sporting and cultural organisation. It is, therefore, doubly disappointing that alternative sponsorship could not be found."
Dr Barry is on the IMO's Public Health Committee and on the Government's Alcohol Task Force, set up in 2002.
"By their decision yesterday, the GAA has turned its back on the many thousands of Irish people and families struggling with alcohol-related problems," Dr Barry added.
The complete phasing-out of alcohol sponsorship, which would mirror the situation in all French sports, was suggested during Seán Kelly's term of office in the GAA.
But such a decision has been postponed, in the short term at least. The GAA appointed Brendan Murphy as national co-ordinator of the alcohol and substance abuse task force last November. The joint GAA/Department of Health initiative is chaired by former Galway hurler Joe Connolly.
Mr Brennan made the announcement at the hurling championship launch in Croke Park where captains from 12 of the leading county panels were present.
