Beer drinkers planning crimes

UNEMPLOYMENT and beer consumption have a significant impact on crime in Trinidad and Tobago. That is the conclusion of Dr Hari Maharajh, based on his research and evaluation of statistics on serious/minor crimes and minor offences over the period 1990 to 1997. Maharajh’s conclusion was made known yesterday at the fourth International Conference in Psychiatry at the Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Port-of-Spain. Maharajh’s paper was entitled “Crime in TT — Effects of Alcoholism and Unemployment.” Maharajh told the audience of mostly psychiatrists that during 1990 to 1997, statistics from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) showed that there was an increase in minor crimes, (crimes which carry a penalty of less than five years prosecuted in the High Court), while there was a steady decrease in serious crimes (crimes with a penalty of more than five years prosecuted in the High Court). He said there was no published data on crime before 1990 or after 1997 from the CSO, when he checked eight months ago. He said, however, there was a clear relationship between unemployment and crime, based on several factors including housing, alcohol consumption and the sale of handguns, or the making of guns.

Maharajh said the unemployment rate fell from 20 per cent to 14.2 percent over the seven-year period, while the total litres of alcohol consumed showed that “this is a beer drinking country,” followed by stout and rum drinking. He said there was a negative correlation between serious crimes/minor crimes and unemployment and minor offences and beer consumption. Maharajh’s reasoning for the increase in crime rates and falling unemployment was based on an economic theory. That is, with more jobs being created as a result of a better economic situation, there was increased motivation to attack businesses and people who benefitted from the stimulation in the economy. His reasoning for the increase in minor offences and increased beer consumption was that with beer drinking, the blood alcohol concentration rose slowly leaving more time for beer drinkers to plan a crime.

He said the blood concentration of those who drank whiskey or rum rose quickly therefore there was no time to plan. He said beer drinking was more for socialisation, and it had become a habit to drink everyday and to drink and drive. Maharajh said with crime here to stay for a long time, efforts should be made to reduce it. he suggested that the breathalyser be introduced and regulations implemented on where alcohol is consumed; that another look be taken at housing plans, since 10,000 homes a year could later become “ghetto-like” and contribute to crime, as well as look at alternatives to unemployment, since he wasn’t sure that URP and CEPEP were effective employment opportunities.