EDITORIAL
Each year as part of the build up to Grand Kadooment, Barbadians are warned to take extra precautions to ensure their safety. This year, we reiterate this advice and urge particular caution when it comes to consuming alcohol.
As a general rule of thumb, people should be wary when it comes to their personal safety and keep vigilant and all times. During the annual Crop Over Festival however, additional steps should be taken as various activities take place across the country that result in large numbers of people converging in small locations and participating in revellery that can lead to high emotions and outbursts. Though most events come off without incident, there is the potential for problems to arise, and party-goers are urged to keep their eyes open to their environment, and take themselves away from any trouble that might be brewing around them or resort early to police intervention if incidences appear likely to degenerate into a hostility.
One factor that plays a huge part in the occurrence of fights is the overindulgence in alcohol, which is becoming more prolific amongst partygoers and which is also heavily encouraged in many of the Crop Over songs popular at this time. Though every adult has a right to imbibe spirits, drunkenness opens up individuals to personal safety risks, since reasoning and judgement are impaired, leaving one more prone to anger and/or vulnerable to harassment. There is also the risk of becoming dehydrated or suffering from alcohol poisoning. Furthermore, it is illegal and hazardous to drive drunk, hence recklessly endangering the lives of others travelling on the country’s roads.
When one considers the potential effect of alcohol on people who participate in the festival, it should be taken more seriously and not treated as a laughing matter as so many artistes tend to do in their lyrics. The image of “falling down drunk” or just needing a “drink in my hand” sets the wrong tone for people, especially youths. One would not want learned behaviours to develop whereby enjoyment and gratification goes hand in hand with alcohol consumption.
Already there have been reports of young children using alcohol. In a press conference yesterday to present key findings from the Barbados Drug Information Network (BARDIN) 2015 Report and Trends for the Period 2011-2015, it was revealed that “children as young as nine years old are experimenting with alcohol” and that “this usage only increases by the time these children enter secondary school”. This opens up youngsters to health risks which may affect their brains and their bodies at this early age, or could develop into more serious health issues as they get older and form deeper substance abuse habits.
Wherever possible, one should try to reduce the chances of danger and ill-health by taking precautions. While alcohol consumption may seem like a safe enough exercise for hard-working people who want to relax and enjoy themselves, care must be taken to the level of indulgence and the frequency of use. Consider all these things as you go about enjoying the remainder of Crop Over and you will be sure to have a safe, fun-filled time.