Public cautioned about negative effects of alcohol

Barbadians do not only need the authorities to introduce breathalyser testing, but to sensitise them about the negative impact that alcohol consumption can have on their health and the well-being of others.

President of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA), Sharmane Roland-Bowen, made that suggestion at a press conference earlier this week, as she lamented that for far too long Barbadians have been led to believe that alcohol is their culture. However, the road safety advocate has not bought into that belief and is adamant that constraints must be introduced with respect to alcohol consumption in this country.

“Research says that the younger you are when you start using alcohol, the more problems and complications that can lead to addiction later on in life,” she said.

Roland-Bowen added, “Last week we were hearing about the banning of e-cigarettes in this country, yes we commend the authorities for that effort and there was also talk about the second-hand smoke. But what we want persons and the authorities to also consider is second-hand alcohol abuse; meaning persons getting behind the wheel of that vehicle and going and driving while under the influence of alcohol.”

She made the point while noting that alcohol consumption can have a huge impact on the healthcare system, adding that with prolonged use, persons can become dependent on alcohol, which she said can also cause aggressive behaviours in some people. Admittedly, she said there are no local statistics to speak to the health impacts, but she said we can draw on international statistics in order to have an idea of what can occur in Barbados.

She highlighted that there is evidence to show that drinking too much alcohol can aggravate symptoms of diabetes and hypertension, and lead to strokes, heart attacks and liver disease. All these, she said, are conditions that may need to be treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, raising the already high healthcare bill.

“It can also lead to cancer… and don’t talk about the accidents. When persons are injured or killed in road fatalities, the ramifications are so extensive, because a lot of money is spent on resources to attend these incidents,” she said.

The BRSA president said that research has proven that there is a link between drinking and driving, and that alcohol can influence or diminish a person’s judgement, reduce their reaction time, and enhance their risk taking abilities. All those, she said, are things that lead to collisions.
(JRT)