No chance of pub closures

Giving up alcohol is an exercise in self-denial that usually comes about because your doctor — not God — asks.

Dreaming of pubs, clubs and other forms of entertainment closing for one day in Lent would have to remain in dream mode as we are a nation of alcoholics, determined to wine right down to the ground until the doctor says, boy/girl, you are going to die. And I am not intending blasphemy.

The scourge of alcohol on health is very real indeed but to the poor man in the street, the pubs have a sobering effect on the lives of people who use drink as the only entertainment they can afford. Meeting regularly with friends is a form of therapy for the unhappy, the happy and the downright greedy. Alcohol is an intrinsic part of the TT culture that is admittedly out of hand.

However, just like stopping the Carnival, shutting pubs even for one day is not going to happen.

It can be argued that the pubs, clubs, fast food outlets, and even the gambling casinos keep the economy ticking over. Alcohol consumption is a two-edged sword with one side being sharper than the other.

Those places provide much needed employment even as they may lead to excessive domestic violence and facilitate murders.

The small entrepreneurs have opened bars on practically every street corner in certain areas.

Like driving PH taxis, the sale of alcohol is a form of much needed employment.

Our TT culture introduces a liking for alcohol with the first sip of beer, ponche de creme, rum or cherry brandy given to small children as a “little taste” of something during all our numerous family celebrations. You got a sip of cherry brandy when the Christmas black cake was making and you were “good to go” by age four.

Who can ever forget the runaway winner of a chutney soca competition with Rum Till I Die? That song was popular with Trinis just like Full Extreme this Carnival. Play that chutney song today and you will find that it’s jamming still and will keep us smiling.

Lynette joseph Diego Martin