Preventing underage drinking in focus during Saba Carnival

Carnival is one of the biggest and most high­ly anticipated events on Saba with colourful cos­tumes, great music, and sensational parties. To en­sure that everyone can en­joy this event it is deemed important to be aware of potential hazards. This year, a campaign has been developed with the aim of preventing underage drinking.

The brain of a teenager is still developing and is, therefore, more vulnerable to the damage alcohol can inflict. Two recent incidents involving minors that were treated for alcohol poison­ing show the urgency of this matter on Saba, according to Saba Government Infor­mation Service (SGIS) in a statement on Thursday.

The campaign is one of the initiatives of the Work­ing Group Substance Abuse with participants from Saba Healthcare, Public Entity Saba, Public Health Saba, Caribbean Netherlands Po­lice Force KPCN, Centre for Youth and Family, Men­tal Health Caribbean, social workers, schools and the hospitality sector.

The mul­timedia campaign will con­sist of posters in the Carnival Village at Princess Juliana Sports Field in The Bottom, and at all the bars on Saba. Audio clips will be played on the radio and in the Village. A town-hall meeting took place last week with infor­mation about a safe and fun Carnival.
The promoters have re­ceived extra instructions not to sell alcoholic bev­erages to minors, and are encouraged to ask for identification (ID) when in doubt. Security personnel in the Carnival Village will be alert for minors drinking alcoholic beverages.

Several partners are also starting awareness campaigns in various forms on topics, such as drinking and driving, unprotected sex, dehydra­tion, heat stroke and hearing damage. “Let’s all look after each other and have a great Carnival,” SGIS said.

The Daily Herald.