Dear Editor,
It was shocking to read ‘Ian on Sunday’ in the Stabroek News of 31 December, 2006 in which Dr Ian McDonald espoused the joys of moderate drinking. It was suprising, coming soon after the articles on 24 Dec and 27 December on the perils of alcohol use in Guyana and the linkages not only to the drunk driving to which Dr McDonald referred, but also to violence and other destructive behaviour.
Dr McDonald refers to research published in 1981 which talks about the benefits of alcohol in moderation. Such research has now been questioned and even debunked.
The June 1999 British Medical Journal (http://www.bmj.com) published an article by George
Davey Smith et al which states that there was no clear evidence of any protective effect for men drinking moderately.
In May 2006, a group of interdisciplinary researchers cautioned against use of the studies on the benefits of moderate drinking since there were flaws in the research and the interpretation of the results(Reference in http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2006/03/30/hscout531874.html)
Other commentaries suggest that any person with healthy diet and lifestyle choices may contribute to the health of moderate drinkers involved in the research.
The problem with the moderation approach to alcohol, is that alcohol tolerance varies with age, health, sex, and ethnicity. Wine drinking is supposed to be safer when consumed with food, but Guyana is not a wine drinking nation. The consumption of alcohol in Guyana has resulted in serious problems. There are no controls in place at any rumshop, or bar. The police cannot use breathalysers to check on alcohol levels in drivers, so no one would feel the need to heed the caution of not drinking and driving – despite the notable efforts of Texaco this year in their advertisements.
While Byron’s Don Juan probably needed wine before attracting any woman, in today’s world in which the lowering of inhibitions contributes to high risk of contracting HIV/AIDs , it makes sense not to encourage any kind of drinking in environments likely to nurture sexual activity.
It is a shame that any society will need narcotics or chemicals to inspire dull men, put sparkle in conversations or to warm the heart. Isn’t it artificial.. that warm feeling of bonhomie which also turns violent, leading as Stabroek News and other media have so faithfully reported, to many incidents of death this year?
One of the legacies of Guyana’s colonial legacy is the inability to address the culture of alcohol consumption. There is no need to encourage drinking in Guyana. Those who want to drink, will do so often at the peril of others. Given the horrors endured by many Guyanese citizens from those drinking moderately or not, it is irresponsible of Stabroek News or any media to allow contributions which would encourage and glorify alcohol consumption.
Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon
