Alcohol and Sport in Slovene Society of the First Half of the 20th Century

» … alkoholizma, kot nekake tradicije /…/ ne bi s predavanji izruval noben protialkoholni apostol, le življenjske moči kipeči šport bo imel to magično moč.«

Abstract

In Slovene society, where alcohol historically was a tolerated drug, sport and alcohol have lived in close cohabitation. In his article, the author points out the paradoxical position of alcohol in sport, since theoretical views on physical exercise saw alcohol as a human enemy, even though in real life it nevertheless remained its constant close companion. The modern sports life-style brought much hope into Slovenian society, since many saw sport as the only thing that could heal the nation of the social disease of alcoholism after the less successful anti-alcohol movements. At the same time, however, sport was notorious for regular instances of alcohol abuse. Alcohol, which traditionally was seen as a stimulant and later became a hindrance for sports achievements, could not be rooted out of sport. Its abuse was always condemned on the declarative level in sports circles; however, alcohol nevertheless remained an important element of a sporting social life.