– Health Minister
THERE IS A saying that says, “those who made merry were thought to be quite crazy by those who could not hear the music,” but in Guyana, most people ‘hear the music’, and the lyrical content, of late, has become a major cause for concern.
Taking up the issue also is the Ministry of Health, with subject Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy decrying the use of music to promote unhealthy and negative messages and calling on stakeholders to act more responsibly.
He however made it pellucidly clear that the Health Ministry will not support censorship. “While we cannot and will not support censorship of music, we are concerned about the lyrics in some of the music which have become popular in recent times,” Minister Ramsammy says in a statement to the media, adding: “The lyrics of music have always endured some negative responses. Lyrics, particularly in recent times, have drawn negative responses because of their glorification of stigma, domestic violence and other forms of violence, sexual abuse, multiple sex partnerships and misuse and abuse of alcohol and other illicit substances.”
He is also calling for a multi-sectoral approach involving all stakeholders as his Ministry presses on with its campaign to address the problem of alcoholism in our society.
“…we are particularly calling on various stakeholders to act more responsibly,” he said. “We believe artistes have not acted responsibly in the way their songs promote misuse of alcohol. We believe the radio stations, television channels, music and concert promoters etc. have not been responsible in the way they promote music that make abuse of alcohol an attractive thing.”
There is no denying, he said, that music is an essential part of our culture, and as such has great influence on our people, more-so our youths. “Music has become one of the more potent tools to spread awareness and to educate people; it is a potent promotional tool…the advertisers and others use jingles to promote their products and messages,” he said.
Noting that it is no secret either that the Health Ministry, like its counterparts in other countries, has from time to time used music in its awareness campaigns or to promote behavioural change, Minister Ramsammy said the last two years in particular have seen an increasing number of popular songs and popular artistes begin to glorify the use, misuse and abuse of alcohol.
Said he: “The messages — which seem to suggest that the only way to have fun (a good time) and the only way to ensure you are attractive to women is by misusing alcohol — have become very popular among artistes. This is of major concern to the Ministry of Health; these messages are in direct conflict with the messages the Ministry of Health is trying to present to people in our country, particularly children and young adults.”

Worsening health problem

He said that granted that alcohol has been part of our culture for years, and that many people use it sensibly, its misuse is fast becoming a serious and worsening public health problem.
“Youth culture, through music, fashion and the media,” he said, “often links alcohol with ‘having a good time’. As our consumption of alcohol has increased, our attitudes have changed. Drunkenness is not only increasingly tolerated but for some, has become a desired effect.”
Noting that though there is mounting evidence to show the negative effects of alcohol advertising, whether through commercials or through songs, on the drinking attitudes and behaviours of young people, Minister Ramsammy said yet still stakeholders in the industry are adamant that while advertising may encourage drinkers to choose new brands, it does not make them drink more, and that brand marketing does not target teenagers. There is also the contention by artistes and musicians that their music is sole for enjoyment and not for educating and influencing people’s behaviour.
But despite these arguments, Minister Ramsammy is convinced that that alcohol advertising and music do combine to influence young people. “It pre-programmes them to drink; attracts new drinkers; invites drinkers to drink more; and makes it hard for those who have problems to stop,” he said.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said, alcohol use and abuse has been established as a strong risk-factor for Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, road accidents resulting in serious longtime injuries and deaths, and domestic and mental illnesses.
“There are specific links between alcohol abuse and youth violence,” he said. “Harmful and hazardous alcohol use is a risk factor both for being victimized and perpetrating youth violence.”
On the subject of youth violence, Minister Ramsammy says it takes many forms, such as   bullying, gang violence, sexual aggression, and assaults occurring in streets bars and night clubs, with victim and perpetrator alike being young people.
Again quoting the WHO, he said: “… data on youth violence and alcohol indicate that its use directly affects cognitive and physical function. Hazardous alcohol use can reduce self control and the ability to process incoming information and assess risks, and can increase emotional liability and impulsivity to make certain drinkers more likely to resort to violence and confrontation. Similarly, reduced physical control and ability to recognize warning signs in potentially dangerous situations can make some drinkers easy targets for perpetrators.”
He said that according the Global School Health Survey conducted here in 2004 and targeting students between the ages of 13 to 15, the percentage of students who had at least one drink containing alcohol during a random month was 35.5,  with 46.9 per cent being boys and 25.9 per cent being girls.
Of the 35.5 per cent of boys who admitted to having an alcoholic drink or two, a startling 28.3 per cent said they drank so much alcohol that they were drunk one or more times during their life, while another 17.4 per cent said they drank so much alcohol, that they had a hangover and had gotten into trouble with their friends or family, missed school or got into fights.

Tackling the Problem

Dr. Ramsammy said that in an effort to tackle the public health problems due to alcoholism, the Ministry of Health has stepped up its campaign in terms of establishing a reliable and accurate surveillance system on alcohol and related injuries, and issues related to gender, alcohol and culture.
Field work for the gender alcohol and culture survey, he said, has been completed in Regions Four (Demerara/ Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), and the Alcohol and Injuries survey is set to be conducted during the next few months.
A Global School Health Survey has also been conducted and the results are currently awaiting analysis.
“We will also be utilizing the WHO STEPS survey to gather data on chronic diseases and all the related risk factors. A large section of this survey is designated towards gathering information on alcohol as a risk factor,” the Health Minister said, adding that in addition to surveillance, the Ministry also subscribes to an active Drug Demand Reduction and Rehabilitation Programme that is free of cost to the public.
Convinced however that a sight more can be done to stem this tide of alcoholism among youths, Minister Ramsammy said: “The Ministry of Health and other ministries, other stakeholders, such as the churches and others, must do a better job at counteracting these messages with our own positive messages.
“Churches must ensure they become an important part of sending out the right messages; schools must also become involved in ensuring the right messages about alcohol are being promoted.”
In conclusion, the Minister said:
“Whilst I cannot see any positive thing to pursue a path of banning music, I do see benefits in discussing and debating the negative impact of some forms of music on our children and young people.  I hope Guyana has a rewarding experience in discussing this subject over the next few months.”