The rum-drinking culture

It wouldn’t take long for anyone to conclude after observing what is happening in the society, especially during the past holiday season, that the issue of alcohol consumption and the lasting negative effects it has on individuals and societies in general must be kept on the national agenda as it needs urgent attention.

Not only can drinking too much alcohol cause negative short-term effects such as loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance etc, it can also cause negative long-term effects; these include brain damage, liver failure, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve damage, and heart failure.

Alcoholism contributes to a range of social problems, for example; there has been an increase in cases of domestic and other forms of violence in our society. Official statistics show that one in four Guyanese women have been physically abused in a relationship.

The increase in domestic violence has been blamed on several reasons; one of which is the abuse of alcohol and drugs. In fact, quite a number of stories which were carried by the local press over the past few months pointed to the fact that the alleged abuser or killer of some of the women murdered was under the influence.

In addition, research shows that alcoholism contributes to suicide which has been, and continues to be, a major social problem, and is also considered to be a public health issue, particularly in Guyana.

The negative effects of alcoholism are well known, what needs to be dealt with is how the problem could be addressed. One thing for sure is that the issue needs to be tackled by all stakeholders in a holistic manner. Stakeholders – including the religious community, Government, political parties, NGOs, community leaders, law enforcement authorities, bar owners and parents – as a whole, need to sit at the table again and come up with a strategy that would deal effectively with the problem, since putting legislation in place alone, even though very important, will not help.

To begin with, there are countless rum shops in the country, many of which are unlicensed. The authorities need to clamp down on those that are operating illegally, and the entire process as it relates to issuing licences should be reviewed.

Added to this is the issue of minors purchasing alcohol from these shops. The uncaring rum shop owner, in the interest of making profits, would take the chance and sell the product to juveniles. This is more so since they feel that no one will find out and even if they do, very little will be done by the authorities to prosecute those found engaging in the activity.

What is even more worrying is that in most cases it is the parents or guardians who send their children to purchase alcohol. This, therefore, means that there must be legislation in place that holds parents and guardians accountable for their children’s actions, which they themselves sometimes cause.

Further, Guyana is assailed by reckless music that glorifies and trivialises rum drinking and its debilitating effects. Songs such as “Rum Till I Die” and “One More Fuh De Road” that promote rum drinking could be heard in minibuses, at weddings, and even on the public airwaves. It is, therefore, no wonder so many of our young people engage in excessive drinking to the point of becoming addicts.

The authorities must, therefore, step up their education and sensitisation campaigns with the aim of discouraging the rum-drinking culture among the population. The Health Ministry may need to carry out sensitisation campaigns similar to the ones used for smoking across the country, especially in hinterland areas.

It is certainly not our intention to place the blame for all our problems on the use of alcohol, but one cannot dispute the fact it is indeed a major contributory factor to some of the social ills we face in today’s society. As we enter another year and as we engage in the process of renewal, we must redouble our efforts, both as individuals and as a nation, in dealing with the issue of alcohol abuse and its negative effects on individuals and societies.