‘Ah home’ sober

THE EDITOR: I read in the press recently that a leading alcoholic beverage company is to contract Iwer George for some of their product promotions and that some of this extends not only from Iwer’s popularity base which he has garnered over the years but also from his patriotic Carnival hit “Ah Home”.

All this is just straightforward marketing strategy which is all well and good. However, at the same time, I do wish that the alcohol producing and distribution company would also include or embark upon some public service promotions for “drinking responsibly”. For too long in our culture we seem to have taken a very casual view towards drinking and driving. In this country we have developed the nonsensical bravado that “we could hol’ we liquor” without regard to the sometimes dire consequences that result when inebriated drivers take to the wheel.

Within recent times too, the country has lost Professor Michael Beauburn, who for years was the country’s most ardent advocate for the introduction of a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test, better known as the breathalyser, for use by traffic police to apprehend drunk drivers and so thwart any disaster that they may wreak upon themselves or others. Yet, for all of Professor Beauburn’s good efforts, his remained a voice crying in the wilderness, his appeals falling on deaf ears from one administration to the next. So without the government shamelessly showing any interest, even with Caroni Limited as a government owned entity being also part of the alcoholic beverage industry, I call upon the private sector of this industry to do more for the promotion of drinking responsibly for the increasing numbers of drivers on our roads.

I say “do more” because I do acknowledge that some advertisements do bear the phrase “drink responsibly”, and that some of our overpasses do have the slogan “Don’t Drink and Drive” emblazoned across them (although for an already drunken driver, this serves no purpose). However, I do believe much more can and has to be done with respect to putting an end to drinking and driving in Trinidad and Tobago, via public service advertisements, promotions and education in the mainstream media and in the schools, both primary and secondary. Some may argue that the driving age is from age eighteen so why the need for such information in our primary and secondary schools. But I would counter that by stating that the situation is somewhat of a cultural acceptance that must be addressed from early so that our children grow up hearing repeatedly enough about the dangers of drinking and driving and so hopefully will not partake or condone such behaviour when they reach adulthood.

Medically it has been found that it takes at least one hour for your body to get rid of a typical drink of say one and a half ounces of 80 proof liquor, which is about a one shot glass, straight or with a mixer, or twelve ounces of beer, the amount in a regular bottle or can. The so-called remedies of fresh air, cold showers, coffee or exercise do not help. Time is the only thing that will sober you up as it takes time for the digestive system to process the alcohol in the body after which the effects of it will have diminished. Ideally, it would be great if the breathalyser were introduced here and have Professor Beauburn’s efforts finally bearing fruit. Nevertheless, in the meantime I do wish that the alcoholic beverage industry would indeed show more patriotism in this situation so that overall and particularly, over long holiday weekends and after Friday night liming all of us could arrive home safely and cheerfully sing “Ah Home!”

GEDDES DAVIS
Bellingham WA, USA