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RUM DRINKING IS NOT ILLEGAL

Aug 18, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

There are no laws against the drinking of rum in Guyana. In fact, so long as the alcohol consumed is not bush rum, then there are no laws against its imbibing.
There are laws, of course, against the sale of liquor to a minor. But there are no laws which state how much an adult should consume. There are laws which prohibit driving under the influence but there are no laws which state that once you have a designated driver you should not drink.
Similarly, smoking of cigarettes is not banned. But some places are designated no smoking zones which have rules against smoking. But there are hundreds of others whereby persons can smoke cigarettes.
Smoking is a public health issue, since there have been no established health benefits known to have been derived from smoking.
The Ministry of Health wants to see an increase in the taxes on cigarettes so as to decrease its use, but this measure may only end up igniting an underground trade in cigarettes, and thus end up causing more harm than good. Banning cigarette smoking may do the same and create an uproar, because there are still tens of thousands of Guyanese, particularly poor Guyanese, who are smokers.
Cigarette smoking is far more dangerous to health than rum drinking. But there is no pressure at the moment for the banning of cigarette smoking or for the censorship of movies that show heroes and heroines smoking.
Ways and means have to be found to reduce the incidence of smoking. Public education is important. The schools are a good place to start for once the right seeds are sown in the young, they will blossom when in adulthood.
In the case of alcohol, the problem is not the use of this substance but rather its misuse. In fact, there are increasing studies which point to some health benefits for moderate consumption, for example, of certain kinds of red wine after meals.
The problem with alcohol is when it is taken in excessive amounts. The problem is alcoholism, not moderate alcohol use.
Alcoholism is a disease and must not be confused with drinking. From a public health standpoint, the problem of alcoholism is not just about usage, but more about the underlying causes of excessive usage.
Trying to discourage persons from using alcohol is not the issue. The issue is discouraging excessive consumption, a habit that has underlying psychological roots.
This is why the recent report in the media that an advisory committee will soon issue letters to television stations warning them not to air music that glorifies run drinking is disturbing.
The problem is not run drinking. The problem is alcoholism.
Addressing alcoholism requires addressing the root causes, especially the emotional causes that drive persons to consume excessive alcohol.
No doubt the advisory committee means well. It has the best interests of the public at heart. It too must be concerned that certain songs will encourage increased consumption by the young. But the problem is much bigger than this and requires a more detailed examination of why levels of alcoholism are so high within our society.
There are laws against inciting violence in our society. And this is why there have been concerns over the airing of certain songs that are seen to have crossed the line and actually promote or justify the use of violence.
The censorship of these songs is quite appropriate, and therefore by extension, it may be assumed that there is nothing wrong with restrictions being placed on the airing of songs which glorify rum drinking.
Until such time, however, as rum drinking is unlawful, it would be inappropriate to ban songs that are seen as encouraging the consumption of rum, except of course if such rum drinking is against public morals or promotes disorder.
Not all rum drinking is wrong; not every case of consumption of rum leads to social problems and therefore it is inadvisable for television stations to be warned about the airing of songs that glorify rum drinking.
If on the other hand these songs urge persons to become alcoholics, then it could be seen as being offensive to public morals and should be eligible for censorship. But for the time being, these songs which are seen as encouraging rum drinking may simply be seen as reflecting a problem within our society which is not going to go away by simply discouraging music about rum.

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