The Caribbean region, inclusive of people in Trinidad and Tobago, has a serious problem with the overuse of alcohol, Caricom Assistant Secretary General Dr Edward Greene said yesterday.
’Data on Latin America and the Caribbean reveal that alcohol consumption (averages) at 8.9 litres (per capita) is three litres higher than the global average. Alcohol consumption in Caribbean countries is also estimated to be 50 per cent higher than in Central American countries,’ Greene said during the launch of the Trinidad and Tobago Beverage Alcohol Alliance at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain.
The TTBAA has pledged to promote the responsible advertisement and sale of liquor, and many of the country’s brand managers for the most popular alcoholic beverages came together at yesterday’s launch.
Data from the World Health Organisation’s findings on substance abuse also showed that Latin America and the Caribbean had among the highest number of citizens whose live expectancy and quality have been ’adjusted’ due to illness and disabilities stemming from alcohol abuse.
Greene warned that much violence and injuries via intentional assaults and motor vehicular accidents have been directly linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
He highlighted the costs of treating alcoholism, as well as injuries incurred from alcohol use and the loss of man hours and productivity which the region is subjected to as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.
Derek Lewis, founder of popular Carnival band Island People said he believed the mechanisms by which this country governs alcohol use and the dangers attached to it were still archaic. He made a call for the implementation of the use of Breathalysers at the event.
Island People, like many other all-inclusive bands and event organisers, stocks a range of alcoholic beverages for the enjoyment of patrons at their events. Lewis said he believed the proper control of alcohol abuse could contribute a lot to a decrease in the number of alcohol-related incidents.
Earlier this week, the group Citizens Against Drunk Driving (CADD) was also launched. The group is hoping to bring attention to the ill-effects of Government’s inability to bring the Breathalyser Bill before Parliament in a timely fashion.
