As we go through our calendar of events every year, one thing remains constant – Alcohol.
While many profess to be able to enjoy themselves without the use of alcohol others confess to its necessity. It is nonetheless alarming when you look at the amount of alcohol being sold and consumed especially during our annual carnival season.
We often hear rumours suggesting that St. Lucians are the number one consumer of alcohol {per person} in the regional, something that should be frightening, not celebrated as is often the case. While these stories may not be entirely accurate what is fairly credible is information coming from organizations that study the effects of substance abuse.
According to NCD Alliance, in a study on Non-Communicable Diseases, 3 million people die around the world every year from alcohol use. That’s one person every 10 seconds. “Alcohol is one of the major risk factors for a wide array of NCDs like cancer, digestive diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and mental health disorders.”
According to the World Health Organization {WHO}, St. Lucia with its population of approximately 180,000, is worrisome. The WHO reports, through its Progress Monitor of 2020 that 82% Percentage of deaths come from NCDs and that there is a 19% probability for premature mortality of which alcohol is a major contributor.
It is obvious that alcohol abuse is not a new phenomenon nor is the effects on the nation as a whole, which includes the stain on the local health industry. What must be worrying though is how widespread it is now and how rapidly it is growing. Unfortunately, the nations under 18s have joined the bandwagon which begs the question – where are the authorities in the fight to stop the sale or consumption of alcohol where minors are concerned? At almost every event during this year’s carnival celebration, minors could be seen raising a bottle to their lips with the confidence of a 40-year-old.
There are only two major carnival days left, and to many these two days represent the last lap of what seemed to be quite an exciting vaval season. It is also the last opportunity to use carnival as an excuse for alcohol abuse.
Carnival Monday and Tuesday was traditionally known for the spectacle that it was, the colour, the costumes, the presentation. Of late, it has been associated differently.
It is the prerogative of each individual to partake, or not. There is also the decision as it relates to how much is consumed. The old saying “we reap what we sow” s truest in this situation and should be taken seriously.