-Youth Minister reveals
One of the two major companies producing alcohol here will soon be introducing a “very active programme” to promote “sensible drinking,” according to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony.
While the minister did not want to go into details and he did not wish to “steal the company’s thunder” he told Stabroek News that it would be in terms of advertisements as well as a programme, which would be introduced.
“It will be a lot of fun but it would drive home the message…,” he said.
This company, whose name the minister did not reveal, will be the first in Guyana to take such a bold step. In recent years there have been calls for companies to take such a direction.
According to the minister, the company is collaborating with an international company that has been the first in the world to have gone in this direction and has asked all its distributors follow that path.
The minister said part of the programme will be played out during the English cricket team’s tour of the Caribbean which would see two one-day games being played in Guyana. He said there will be “a set of initiatives” leading up to those games and during the actual games there will be more initiatives “to let people understand when they are drunk.”
The minister hopes that this move will have a snowball effect and other companies will follow suit.
In an interview with Stabroek News the minister said the companies and the major distributors of alcoholic products need to be involved at some level in addressing the issue of alcohol abuse.
“I think we need to work with them for them to understand that they are endangering people’s life… by them drinking themselves stupidly,” the minister said.
It was pointed out to the minister that the companies can argue that they do not tell persons to abuse alcohol, but he said companies are recognising that they need to encourage people to drink sensibly. “They need also, with their marketing help, to promote those messages that are now socially acceptable,” the minister commented.
Partnership
Over time some critics have argued that the alcohol producing companies should not be involved in sponsoring sport and other events that involve young people.
However, Anthony noted that the companies have a diverse range of products and when they are sponsoring events that involve youth they do not use their alcoholic products. He pointed out that when beverage companies sponsor the Mash children’s parade the ministry is very explicit that they cannot use any alcoholic products and this is done in any other activity that involves youth.
“To eliminate them completely… we are not able to do that because in many of these things we need resources to do them,” the minister noted.
He said the ministry has been working in partnership with the companies and sometimes the alcoholic beverages are promoted, but those events are not intended for children but for adults.
“While we would not stop everybody from drinking tomorrow [what we have to do] for those who want to drink, we must have messages for them to understand that there are consequences when they abuse alcohol.”
But the minister said the companies need to understand that there is a shift in society and they should come onboard as it is not “about killing your business but it is about us working for what is best for the overall society and I think once they understand that they would have to put policies in place…”
Glamorizing
According to Anthony, the “glamorizing of alcohol” needs to be looked at, since there are advertisements that target young people while glamorizing the products.
“We also need to get the advertisers and even the television stations to put out responsible advertising,” the minister said. And when asked how this could be done, the minister said they need to be involved and he mentioned what has happened over time with smoking where the dangers of smoking are now placed on the cigarette packets.
The minister suggested that such warnings can be placed on alcohol products and even during the advertisements. He added that while there may not be any research to support the theory that when persons start drinking young they are more likely to become addicted, as with smoking, the minister said this was more than likely the case.
He said to counter the glamorizing of alcohol “we need to get people to understand what they are getting into” as there are some persons who would start out drinking socially and then become chronic drinkers.
“Just like how you have ads promoting drinking maybe you should have ads to counter it so that when people look at it they would understand the consequences of drinking…” the minister suggested. While he does not have the figures, Anthony acknowledged that alcohol abuse places a great burden on several sectors of the country and not the least of them is the health sector.
New DUI law
He noted the number of accidents that are caused on our roadways by intoxicated drivers and praised the new law on drinking and driving that was passed in the National Assembly in July last year.
The Evidence and Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2008 is effectively the country’s first driving under the influence (DUI) law and will limit motorists to roughly a two-beer limit. If an accident occurs as a result of a motor vehicle on the road the police will be vested with the authority to order the drivers to submit to breathalyser tests either at the scene or in a nearby police station.
The minister said there is a need for persons to understand the consequences of drinking and while it will be a good thing if they can abstain from alcohol it is known that many persons would drink and they need to understand that the abuse of alcohol is not good.
The minister feels that there needs to be more vigilance in enforcing the law on selling alcohol to under-aged children, something that happens quite frequently in Guyana.
Regarding how his ministry is involved in addressing this issue, Dr Anthony said it did not just address the issue of alcoholism but rather substance abuse in general and there were specific programmes in the ministry that target young people. In one of the programmes, which the minister described as “institutional”, about 25 students every year are brought together and taught skills and told of best practices while also being trained to become peer educators for HIV and AIDS.
But most importantly children are warned about the dangers of substance abuse and it is hoped that from the talks they receive they will go onto abstaining from such substances. There is also a six-month non-residential programme at Sophia, apart from the many youth camps the ministry organises countrywide during the August holidays at which talks on substance abuse are integral.
The minister noted that the message that abusing alcohol is dangerous will not make an impact overnight as anything that has to do with changing people’s behaviour is difficult but with constant education and getting persons to set an example it can happen.
Influencing change
“It is a combination of efforts that would eventually bring the change… And it is not just the government’s responsibility, it is everybody’s responsibility and I think if we mutually reinforce the messages each other send, I think it would help to bring that change faster.”
Dr Anthony feels that the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS should not just confine their efforts to that area, but should also broaden their messages to include alcoholism and other issues. He said religious organisations also have to play a large role in addressing the issue.
“If we get people to start thinking about it and talking about it then it would help to create change and we would also be able to educate a whole generation of young people.”
If these companies do carry on with their campaign….and everyone listens attentively to every word and understands then these same companies will lose more money than when Wall Street crashed.
it is all in the name of advertisement and propoganda. a good business strategy to say the least. saying that u have the consumers health and concern at hand, but the same product they are providing advice on, can kill in the process. yet – if you drink in moderatioin, do not drink and drive thus saving a life then that in itself becomes a great advertisement campaign.
just like cigarettes producers and cigarette ads which are now providing disclaimers as to the health risks involved in smoking. now the corporations have to provide information about the health risk involve in smoking and folks feel this false sense of security because they think, “that will never happen to me” so they continue to smoke.
by providing information about the exposure to various types of associated cancer, corporations can avoid the numerous lawsuits and billions of $$$ being paid out to consumers. folks smoke of their own free-will, get cancer then sue the cigarette company for not telling them the use of tabacoo products can lead to cancer. but does that stop cigarette users from using – no sir.
after the lawsuit, the cigarette company raise the price of cigaretts to recoup the cost of the lawsuits and now other smokers come of of their pocket a likkle bit more. a vicious cycle
this ad will not stop folks from drinking either. hopefully some will not drink at all, and those that do drink, will drink responsible and do not drink and drive and then kill some innocent person in the process.
but at least no-one will blame the producers of the product because they would have done their job and hope that one one pays any attention to the fine print or advertisement – which folks will need a magnifying glass to read if printed on the bottle.
let’s not forget that the small shops which are not monitored and where the shop keepers will continue to sells alchohol to minors and targets the poor uneducated folks. just like drugs we are a product and victims of our environment. as long as there are the likes of “de rum song” it will be a challenging task at hand.
business strategies my friend and never about the consumers!
but this is a start….
This “very active programme” to promote “sensible drinking,” by the Guyanese alcohol drinks producer has been long overdue. Many thanks to the owners of the company for taking such a responsible approach to their products and it is hoped that the public will now play their part too.
Many thanks also to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony for embracing this diplomatic approach of working within the system to try and solve a long running problem with alcohol abuse in Guyana.
Much good can come of these measures.
THE ALCOHOLICS HAVE BEEN CRASHING AND KILLING PPL MORE THAN WALL STREET.I AM A BELIEVER THAT IF U ARE GOIN TO DRIVE, THEN DONT DRINK.NO ONE KNOS THEIR LIMIT WEN IT COMES TO ALCOHOL.EVERY DRINK HAVE A DIFFERENT % OF ALCOHOL.WELL, U CAN BUY A breathalyse AND TEST YURSELF B4 U START THE VEHICLE. IF U REMEMBER WHERE TO PUT IT,LOL .
I GUESS THE WORD “SENSIBLE” MEANS THAT U HAV THE ABILITY TO REACH HOME ALIVE.
…. i have known since growing up ,, that anyone can kheri de jackass to de water ,, but that is where the problem begin !,, and when yuh add in the fact dat de jackass deh in a boat dat en gat paddle an it gyin ova de falls !… den it mo serious dan education at dis time can be of help ! an den of course it depends on the format of the education content ! this is a hefty budget !
i am aware of the benefits of EDUCATION ! the question is,, it’s effect ! on the target audience,,, who find alcohol a “stimulant” !
if the objective is to take away the alcohol by education there must be in it’s place an alternative ,, WHICH IS ??????????????????????????
Don’t make me laugh,,,,,all I see these jokers doing is protecting themselves from liability,,,,, sensible drinking to a Guyanese amounts to nothing.
Come, come LINDENBANNA… you would not be accusing the liquor companies of cynically trying to get some cover for the other news item in today’s press: NAMELY
…. “Banks DIH after tax profit tops $1B:
In spite of the challenging economic year internationally, Banks DIH, for the first time in the company’s history, recorded in excess of $1billion in profit after taxes for the financial year of 2008.”……..
Could these two news items be related????
Totally agree with u guy. Forgive me for being cynical but why are ppeople rushing to commend the Minister and the alcohol producer? I have just read how a minister has ducked his responsibility by giving credence to an idea which will most certainly increase alcoholism! Also he is ready to pass responsibility on to the religious organisations and NGO’s.I have to dsay that there is a behaviour which can be called ’sensible drinking’ and it is usually practised by sensible and disciplined young people; they do not need to be educated about being sensible!On the other hand, most of the people who become dependent on alcohol or drugs are of an emotionally vulnerable disposition. Therefore, the drinks company here is given encouragement to advertise their product and yes, protect their liability with the help of this minister and develop their market further. Dr Anthony believes that alcoholism is not such a big problem, it should be included with the education of HIV/AIDS! Does this man understand the complexity of prevention and management of HIV/Aids?
Alcoholism, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS are currently epidemic in the country, surely for such a small population,he should take his responsibility more seriously in helping to control it! But no, it should be up to religious organisations! What poppycock!Which planet is this guy living on? Are young people in guyana so different from the rest of the world? because the church attendances anongst young people worldwide is dwindling across religious groups. Why doesn’t he tackle directly the problem of retailers selling alcohol to underage youths? Thats easy enough and will certainly raise awareness.
The people of Guyana needs to find out who are the foreign customers of the two large producers of alcohol in Guyana, and report about the two Guyana companies. In today’s world of industry and commerce, companies must be good corporate citizens. and if they don’t want to cooperate, they must learn the hard way….huh!
Rgds,
RL
This is a poppy show. they are just copy catting what the developed world is doing with regards to alcohol abuse. We know that the businessmen wont want to lose money by having people drinking less. stop fooling people.
Is there such a thing a ‘Sensible’ or ‘Responsible’ drinking? . How often we that “one more can’t make much difference. One for the road or that a man can’t stand on one leg. The only sensible and responsible thing about drinking, is abstaining.
There is no such thing as sensible drinking, the two words do not belong in the same sentence.
What these folks are trying to do it what the cigarette companies have already done. They know that their product is so addictive, that even the small writing on the pack, “smoking will kill you” has no impact on their business, but it makes them look as thought they care.
It is all a carefully studied marketing ploy.
Joe.
“sensible drinking” is an oxymoron.