Tony Hendriks, Contributor
THE image of a man and an infant standing on the Palisadoes Beach, waves foaming in the background, the little girl's head tilted back, sipping from an old time, long necked, Red Stripe bottle the man tips gently to her lips, will be with me forever. I have a black and white photo of it, the girl is my sister and the man my dad.
Kodak moments of children drinking beer epitomise the belief that just one little drop never killed anyone. It's true, unless it's the draw that choked the camel black, sending the caravan over the edge of the precipice, into a tree halfway down a mountainside. That's such a common occurrence in Jamaica; we all just hope if it happens to us, we hit an early tree.
That sipping scene is replayed every day. It reflects our attitude to alcohol. People joke, "The only reason we stay here is because we can still drink and drive!" I've stood, late night into early morning in rum bars shoulder-to-shoulder, Q-to-Q with police, thief and politician, no one leaving sober, all in charge of a deadly weapon, out of control of heavy, four-wheeled killing machines. Often unable to remember how we got home. Alcoholism is an acceptable part of Jamaican everyday life, just one more puddle to mop under the carpet.
A chronic, unrepentant, alcoholic friend of mine once called to announce his intention to dry out. Shock shook, not stirred, me before enough supportive juice coursed through my veins to garner: "Excellent! If you need someone to talk to, call." Having been clean and sober myself for several years by then, I was under no illusion that these things must be done on your own but support is good and should be offered. "I'm going to Hedonism for a week." He reported. "What?" I asked amazed, bemused and confused. "The nude beach and atmosphere in Negril will help me relax." he declared.
Cynicism flooded my craw and I couldn't stop it escaping. "If you want to avoid snow don't go to Antarctica! If you're intent on celibacy, Club Gemini might not be the place to go to take your mind off things! I'd have thought an all-inclusive called "Hedonism" was the last place to go dry out!"
"That makes it more of a challenge. When I stay dry I'll know I'm really in control," came his emotionally blackmailing response. He knew that when I'd finally given up alcohol I began one festive, drinking season. My friend did not succeed and later died as a result of his alcoholism.
Does letting a baby sip beer make them turn into an alcoholic or even a bad student for the matter? No! My sister, the little girl in the first paragraph, drinks occasionally and in moderation, she will do all her life. She also went to Oxford and graduated with a first class honours degree. I on the other hand am an addict and always will be. Clean and sober now, I gave up cocaine in '89, alcohol in '93 and cigarettes in '96 and that's as good as a bachelors, a masters and a PhD as far as I am concerned!
Alcohol and cigarettes are in many ways more difficult to give up than other drugs, as they are so acceptable. If you slip and start drinking again people seldom ostracise you. "It's not as if he's using heroin, falling asleep in public, chatting crap to anyone who'll listen, endangering his own or other's lives, is it. Is it?" Think again!
The question is, should we allow school children access to alcohol? Certainly not unsupervised! They should be taught how to do it properly although some lessons can't be taught they must be learned. However, if a student has a tendency to heavy drinking perhaps they can be helped at an early age. They could be guided into a career as an airline pilot where their full potential will be realised.
You can't blame a pupil for chugging a beer or burning a spliff before an hour of Religious Education? Considering the size of the concept, many adults need an anaesthetic to tackle the subject. They serve 'daddy's juice' in churches for communion and I know theologians in Jamaica who reek of 'funny incense', look vague and always have the Holy Spirit close at hand.
Should vendors sell alcohol to kids? No, but you can't legislate against it. Our national mantra is "The law is not a shackle!" Do as we say, not as we do! Ultimately we all follow examples set by our parents. Hic!
Tony Hendriks can be reread at www.JamaicanPaleface.com or e-mailed and roundly chastised via JamaicanPaleface@aol.com.
