Their first drink of alcohol
By Sara Bharrat and Tiffny Rhodius
This week we asked the man/woman in the street at what age they took their first drink, if they thought underage drinking is a problem in Guyana and how they recommend the issue be addressed.
Romeo Samuels, Soldier:‘I had my first drink at 17 but I was already out of high school. I was with friends that night but since then I have not become addicted to alcohol. But I can’t say that I entirely like how I felt after I drank. I felt like I was someone else, the effect it has on me just didn’t make me feel like me anymore. I would definitely advise young people to stay away from alcohol. If you can’t or aren’t able to limit yourself then drinking will have you out of control in no time. Alcohol gives you lots of room for regret and you shouldn’t leave room for any regret. While I can’t truly say whether underage drinking is a problem I know the best way to make sure that this doesn’t happen is by implementing legislation that makes it illegal for those underage to purchase alcohol. If such legislation is in place then it should be used.’
Trevana Baldeo, Private Sector Employee:
‘Underage drinking is something that happens here all the time. I’ve been in several clubs and the majority of the crowd are underage. They shouldn’t be allowed in the club in the first place so that means that door watchers are lax in their duties. I would never think of telling an underage person anything because I’ve witnessed instances where older persons have been reprimanded for doing so. Many of these teens also pressure their parents so they can have their way and there really isn’t anything we as strangers can do. I took my first drink at 17, right out of high school and I still drink but only occasionally. I think that most young people associate getting out of high school as being an adult and so they rush off and do all sorts of things. Peer pressure tends to make young people do a lot of things they don’t want to. I’m not really sure what we can do to address this issue that is already spinning out of control.
Anthony Snow, Youth Repres-entative/Model:‘I took my first sip of alcohol while I was definitely way underage but I was living in New York at the time. There almost all the children drink underage. I did it because then it seemed like fun to me and I’ve never been addicted so I guess I’m lucky. Alcohol affects everyone differently and it has a lot to do with how disciplined and strong our mind is. It has a lot to with how teens are brought up, the culture they grow up seeing. When compared to more developed countries like England and US, Guyana does not have a big problem with regard to underage drinking but there still is a problem. There are also large numbers of teenagers being allowed into clubs. I think one of the things leading to this is the fact that there aren’t many sources of entertainment for young people. I mean they see the club as recreation and once they get there they have nothing else but dancing, drinking or smoking to do. Prolonging this problem will only make it get bigger.’
Lloyd Alexander, Businessman:‘Maybe I had my first drink around 16 or 17 with a group of friends. However, I am more attuned to my religious beliefs now and I try not to drink. On special occasions I might indulge in a glass of wine. There should be more stiff laws governing underage drinking. It doesn’t matter how many programmes are implemented to distract a teenager from drinking they will always end up doing that. So the best thing we can do it limit their access to alcohol. Adults should not practice sending children to buy alcohol and shop owners and bars should refuse to sell those under age any alcohol.’
Indranie Singh, Private Sector Employee:
‘I don’t think we have a major underage drinking problem here but I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen. Bars and clubs don’t bother asking for identification and I think that is one of the major things promoting underage drinking here. I drink socially now and yes I had my first drink while I was under age. I wouldn’t advise teens to start drinking now but instead I encourage them to think about the effects it can possibly have on them. In addition to this, school administrations need to pay keen attention to what students do. I remember back in high school there were some children who would smuggle alcohol into class and share it freely. And you know what? Teachers still haven’t to this day realized that on certain days a good portion of their classes were tipsy.’
Gavin Matthews, self employed: ‘I had my first drink about five years ago at 26 years of age. At the time I was in the Police Force and it was with friends. I do think that underage drinking is a problem because of peer pressure and a lack of guidance in the home and overall. I don’t drink anymore because of my religious beliefs and at the time it was because I was with friends that I did. But to deal with underage drinking we need to come together as a whole community and be each other’s keeper. We need to look out for one another and apply the value of concern so that we can have a better community with strong values.’
Beatrice Sam, self employed: ‘My first time drinking was an experience I will never forget. It had me lightheaded, my mouth had no taste and I vomited and was stumbling about. I don’t think that children should drink under age because it makes them do things they shouldn’t do. To deal with this problem shops that sell alcohol should ask to see ID. They could even ban the rum.’
C. Drakes, unemployed: ‘I believe that children shouldn’t drink because the alcohol corrupts their brains and makes them do things that they shouldn’t do. Some of them even do criminal things have unprotected sex and when they are passed out people steal things from them. Banning the rum will not work, the parents need to step up and be parents. Delinquent parents make delinquent children.’
Yanick Smith, student: ‘I am not a drinker I had only a glass of Carib once. I think it is wrong for teens to drink at an early age because it messes with their studies. The alcohol gets in their system and they do all sorts of wrong and illegal stuff and give their parents a bad name. Shop owners who sell alcohol should ask teens why and who they are buying alcohol for. They shouldn’t even sell them the stuff in the first place. If possible a fine or penalty should be given to shop owners caught selling to teens.’
Roxanne Robinson, self employed: ‘I remember I had my first drink at a friend’s birthday party. After the second beer I was a little lightheaded. Now, I am an occasional drinker and I think that underage drinking is a problem and it is not good for young people to drink. I have seen some of them drinking and when you try to talk to them they tell you to mind your own business. Young people should have friends that encourage them to do the right things. Good friends shouldn’t encourage their friends to drink. Parents also need to play their parts and keep an eye on their children.’