Monday, October 25, 2010

Pubs urged to fully stock condom machines during World Cup

THT’s spokeswoman Edwards: “Safe sex isn’t something we should be ignoring

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has called on pub and bar staff to make sure their condom machines are fully stocked this World Cup to keep amorous sports fans safer from sexually transmitted infections during the tournament.

With previous major sporting events attracting an increased demand for condoms, for both athletes and supporters, it’s likely that this year’s World Cup tournament will prove no exception for increased post-sporting action.

Last year, despite 100,000 condoms being stockpiled for the Winter Olympics, an additional 8,500 had to be emergency airlifted into the Olympic Villages in Vancouver and Whistler.

And in Sydney, at the 2000 Olympics, organisers’ original order of 70,000 condoms for athletes went so fast that an extra 20,000 were needed which also ran out before the end of the Games.

Singer Beverley Knight is supporting THT’s ‘Scoring without getting an own goal’ World Cup campaign: “Pubs and bars are going to be packed to the rafters this World Cup and landlords and bar staff can make a real difference to keeping their punters safer throughout the tournament by making sure their condom machines are also full to the brim!

“There’s nothing that’s going to put you off your game more than an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection this summer, so let’s make safer sex sexy again.”

Terrence Higgins Trust’s spokeswoman, Genevieve Edwards, said: “With levels of sexually transmitted infections rising steadily in the UK safe sex isn’t something we should be ignoring. By keeping condom machines in the gents and ladies’ loos fully topped up staff can help prevent their customers getting an own goal this summer.”

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