Crime and Underage Drinking

Jun 30, 2015 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I would first like to applaud the new Minister of Public Security for the outstanding work done so far and new vision and direction put forth for the reforming of Guyana’s security sector.
The devastating impacts of crime on foreign investment, migration, and morale of country, among others, have been documented by many observers in the past.
I however would like to encourage the Minister to look into an area that has been neglected for far too long in Guyana, and has now become our dominant culture – one which I believe has an extricable link to crime in this country, and that is underage drinking.
As a young Guyanese and one who resides in what it is considered a low-income area in the countryside of Guyana, the effects of this phenomenon is more profound and evident due to obvious impacts one can see taking place by this culture which unfortunately has been allowed to flourish and get out of hand.
Today in Guyana and virtually in all locations where alcohol is consumed or sold, one can find the presence of underage persons (persons under 18) either buying or consuming alcohol. Many bar/shop owners, particularly in rural areas of Guyana, accept this behaviour, because for them, underage drinkers account for a good percentage of their revenue, thus the reluctance to change.
Persons who acquire a liquor licence should be aware that selling alcohol to minors is a violation and risk having their licence taken away.
Almost none of these establishments practice checking the ID’s of suspected underage persons and virtually none have clearly visible signs (which should be issued by a Governmental entity) of the infraction of selling alcohol to a minor, as typically done in the US (also applied for tobacco as well).
As a person who lived in the US for quite some time, I am appalled at the apparent lax in this law and the type of culture that now dominates Guyanese society. This is an issue that US States and Federal Government take very seriously, because they recognize the dangers that exist.
It does not take an expert to observe what lies ahead for a society/community that continues to allow this behaviour to continue. Teenage drinking is quite frankly something that no business establishment should be encouraging.
I reiterate that persons living in these communities where this trend is more evident can testify to the problems that occur when underage persons consume alcohol, particularly rural areas, which is most of Guyana by and large.
It is the number one contributor to violence, noise nuisance and lawless behaviour towards law-abiding citizens in these communities, and many Guyanese are simply hostages to this phenomenon.
Guyana is now at a crossroads for her survival after decades of rot and decay. What we do today will determine where we as a society stand tomorrow.
Like many ills which start innocuously, this one was allowed to fester and become the elephant in the room which hardly anyone talks about.
It is time for change, and on that note I ask that this issue be looked at and taken seriously by the new administration.
D. Persaud
Patriot & Son

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