We are into the galas of Christmas and Carnival and these signal an increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the consequential rise in road traffic accidents and other incidence.
I am no expert in the field of law but I do possess some handy experience in rumshop conduct. As such, I wish to offer for debate or consideration a few suggestions that should mitigate the negative impact of alcohol consumption.
All bar owners/bartenders should be certified in the skill of detecting insobriety.They should refuse to sell alcohol to someone so determined. For future licences purposes a certificate of competence in that field should form part of the requirement like the food badge one is suppose to obtain to handle food.If a group comes into a bar the first question the bartender should ask is, "Do you have a designated driver?" Naturally that question would be non applicable if no vehicle is involved.
Closing time for all bars should be midnight. Most bars do good business from around 4pm. That would give consumers at least eight hours for rest and relaxation. Late-night robberies will also be reduced and hopefully patrons should get home to their families earlier.Some may view these suggestions as draconian and undemocratic but I ask a simple question: "Which is more important, profit, pleasure or preservation of life and limb?"
As an addendum, can the Commissioner of Police ensure that those business people who bring in those containers comply with all safety regulations and that the roadways are not blocked?
Sad to say but I have seen containers parked on the public roadways and around corners and there are no indications to motorists especially in the night. Many may recall that a person died as a result of crashing into an unlit container some years ago in Princes Town.
Sahadeo Ragoonanan,
Princes Town