---

Alcohol is one of the most legal and lethal drugs. Way back in the day, there was the illegal production of alcohol for profit. It was called 'moonshine'. It was called 'moonshine' because it was usually made by the light of the moon, as the 'manufacturers' tried to avoid being caught.

Things are very different today. Alcohol production and consumption is legally carried out in both the light of day and the darkness of night.

In essence, mankind has imputed upon himself a devastating self-inflicted wound. On the one hand, we have the freedom of drinking alcohol, while on the other hand we complain about the devastation caused by careless behaviour after alcohol consumption.

Can we have it both ways, Bermuda? Do we have the right to complain about the consequences of alcohol, when we advertise alcohol, and we give away alcohol as prizes?

Yes, I know that I cannot place all people who drink alcohol in the same group. There are those (I am sure) who are very responsible drinkers. Therefore, I need to focus the remaining portion of this article on the other group. That is, the drinkers that get out-of-control, exhibit poor behaviour, and are more likely to make poor decisions, because of the mind-altering effect of their over-consumption of alcohol.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Prov 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

One of my greatest concerns is that for the filthy lucre of money, we may have people in certain establishments that will turn their eyes away from the fact that the youngster in their bar is an under-age drinker. Bermuda, let me set the stage.

The Players

n Alcoholic-selling establishment

n Teenager (not yet 18-years-of-age)

n Bartender

n Mother of teen

n Police

Okay. Here we go... Recently, a mother informed me, that her 17-year-old daughter was at an establishment, 'drunk as a skunk'!

The teen was supposed to have been up at a friend's house being supervised by an adult. Oops. Not so. No adults were in sight. Mother was furious!

She got a call from someone who knew her under-age daughter. (Ironically, the mother had just left a different establishment because she knew the students there were under-age Berkeley Institute students).

Mother calls police to check out supposed situation concerning her child. Police check things out and inform mother that they don't know where the teen got the drink. (Could have been somewhere else.)

Mother insists police take teen to police station. After some badgering, police do so. (Where are our police of yesteryear who would have seen the drunken under-age child, taken her away from the place, and gotten in contact with the parents?). Mother leaves child to stew for a bit and then picks her up.

Bermuda, I am sure that there are thousands of stories that could be told regarding under-aged drinking in Bermuda. This is just one. My greatest concern is that there are far too many establishments who have not established a normal routine of checking the identification of our teens before allowing them to consume alcohol. Come on Bermuda. Teens (in general) are apt to try the reins; see how far they can go and get away with things and push barriers to the limit. Can we please have the adults in drinking establishments ask for ID at all times?

What if this teen had gotten on her bike and rode down the street? If the reckless behaviour of our teens cannot be stopped at one end, then it becomes needful for establishments to catch it at their end. Ask for the ID! When will we get it? It is the legal alcohol, which is directly involved in the vast majority of road deaths. Once a person is filled up with the spirit of alcohol, they cannot talk straight, walk straight, see straight, much less drive, or ride straight.

As a driver on the roads of Bermuda, it is terrifying to think of how many drunk drivers there really are. What is sadder is to know that the lives of our teens are possibly being cut short because of the refusal of some to do what they can to protect our youth from themselves. Has the love of money and financial gain so engrossed the minds of those in this island that we do not mind young lives being ruined right in front of us? Let's think about this Bermuda.

Let us not allow the legal drug of alcohol to ruin the lives of so many. Respice finem.[[In-content Ad]]

---