By Amber Schultz

Copyright smh

Domestic and family violence agencies and experts have warned that alcohol, gambling and sport events are creating a “toxic” trifecta linked to a surge in violence, calling for advertising reform.

Community organisations including the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, the National Women’s Safety Alliance and the Alliance for Gambling Reform, along with University of Technology Sydney industry professor, journalist and advocate Jess Hill, are calling for the AFL and NRL to phase out alcohol and gambling advertising they say fuels the crisis.

Across last weekend, Sydney hosted two preliminary NRL finals while Melbourne hosted the AFL grand final. Victoria Police warned the 2024 grand final had led to a 9 per cent increase in family violence and predicted this year would be no different.

Hill said alcohol, gambling and sports created a “toxic trio”.