With alcohol-induced violence spiralling across the country, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Friday announced its willingness to partner government in initiatives to address substance abuse.

DDL has also reiterated its commitment to ensuring responsible consumption of its alcohol products by persons of drinking age and its no tolerance policy on sales to children. “DDL also encourages responsible decision-making regarding drinking, or not drinking, by adults, and discourages abusive consumption of our products,” the company said in a statement issued on Friday. “DDL has, at all times, advocated that adults, who choose to drink, do so responsibly.”

DDL made the announcement yesterday in response to queries by Stabroek News, after Human Services Minis-ter Priya Manickchand issued a challenge to producers and distributors to join in the fight against alcohol abuse. In an interview with Stabroek News published at the start of this week, Manickchand said producers and distributors of alcohol should direct some percentage of their profit to awareness programmes and provide counselling for those who are already addicted. Stabroek News sought interviews with personnel from the two major alcohol producing companies in Guyana, DDL and Banks DIH. E-mail requests were sent to General Manager of DDL Loris Nathoo and Public Relations Officer of Banks DIH Troy Peters, outlining interview questions, including whether the companies recognise alcohol abuse as a major problem in Guyana, whether they believe that some of their ads may contribute to alcohol abuse and what they have been doing to address it as major public health issue. A direct response to Minister Manickchand’s challenge was also being sought.

However, both companies have since denied requests for interviews opting to issue prepared statements to the email request. A statement was issued by DDL’s Company Secretary/Legal Officer Allison Thorne while nothing has come from Banks DIH. Below is the complete statement issued by DDL:
“In response to your email dated 17th day of November 2008 to the General Manager of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), please be advised that DDL has long expressed as well as illustrated its commitment to the responsible consumption of its alcoholic beverage products by adults of legal purchase and drinking age. This commitment is evidenced in the Company’s no tolerance approach to its alcoholic products being offered for sale or distribution to children.

In its marketing and advertising efforts, DDL has been generally guided by best practices which have been adopted regionally and which, among other things, seek to:

“1. promote our alcoholic beverages in a socially responsible manner and only to those of drinking age who choose to drink;
“2. disallow advertising and marketing of alcoholic beverages which target children, vulnerable persons or pregnant women;
“3. disallow links of the consumption of alcohol to driving, prowess, bravado, violence, aggression, dangerous or anti social behaviour, enhanced mental or physical capabilities in the advertisement of alcoholic beverages;

“4. disallow illegal, irresponsible and excessive consumption including binge drinking and drunkenness in our advertising and marketing campaign;

“5. include responsible drinking messages in advertising placements.
“Further, DDL welcomes the opportunity to advance its corporate social responsibility by building partnerships with the various governmental departments in order to assist in address issues regarding all forms of substance abuse.”

Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that alcohol abuse costs the health sector millions of dollars a year in hospital bills alone, in addition to a host of negatives in the society, including domestic violence and sexual abuse. He called it a serious health problem and despite steps by his ministry he admitted that much more could be done.  Dr Ramsammy has said that talks are taking place quietly with alcohol producing companies.