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Rum companies’ commitment not to encourage underage drinking must not be used against them now

Mar 28, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Why is this big hullabaloo about rum compamies, targeting underage drinking, but still sponsoring shows where rum is consumed? What else would anyone expect them to advertise and promote?
Guyana, the land of world-renowned Demerara rum, is not an Islamic state where alcohol is non grata and its consumption can result in horrific consequences for the imbiber. We are also not a part of the Vatican.
The consumption of alcohol and alcohol products such as rum has been with us ever since our predecessors crossed the Kala Pani from India and those that came from Africa, Europe and China.
In fact, many brought with them the habit of rum-drinking, an acceptable form of socialising in their homelands.

Rum-drinking is part of the tradition of the human being. I see nothing wrong with this, once it is done responsibly.
I do not condone underage drinking and will never encourage it. Parents must set the example and here is where the social activists need to focus.
Even if the promoters of shows, alluded to by letter writers in the press, encourage the attendance of children it is the responsibility of parents to ensure the children do not consume alcohol. Children do not have to go to shows to consume alcohol. They can do it right at home.
How many of us do not have rum and other forms of alcohol in our homes and of which our children are aware?

It is part of our culture and we are expected to drink rum, albeit in moderation, whenever we have a non-religious function. Do we not offer “a drink” to someone whenever they visit us? Do we not “go with the boys for a drink” to celebrate something frivolous? Do we not drink rum and other types of alcoholic products at weddings, birthdays, nine-days, cricket, etc? Don’t we drink at funerals? Don’t we even give the “dead” a half bottle in the coffin to `take with him’?
Are children not around when we do these things but they cannot partake because as parents and elders we instill in them certain social values?
I was at the cricket at Providence Stadium with my son and I saw many families “enjoying a good rum” in the presence of children.

Drinking rum and other forms of alcohol is cultural and traditional.
Guyanese, like people in many parts of the world, like a “good sport” and this is incomplete without alcohol and like products.
I have been to several such outdoor “sports” in various countries, including the developed world, and saw children being “exposed” to liquor which they dare not touch. Children ought to be told what and what not they can do. This is the job of parents and elders.
We must desist from using family values in attacking companies which legitimately promote their products at functions where they spend millions of dollars.

Rum companies’ commitment not to encourage underage drinking must not now be used against them.
In these troubled economic times, we instead need to reflect on the contributions of such companies and the role they have played in our country’s development.
We need to seriously assess the continuing contributions of these companies as we navigate our way out of the economic morass.
Guyana has been producing some of the best rums of the world, for which it has been duly rewarded, and by extension, the company has put Guyana on the map. We must be profusely thankful for this.
Mahadeo Panchu

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