KINDLY permit me space in your newspaper to voice my concern regarding a particular issue I hope the new Government will address and which I feel for too long has been ignored: Underage Drinking. 

While countries overseas, such as the United States of America and Canada have strict laws governing underage drinking, and Guyana has similar laws, it is evident that the laws here are not being maintained. Our laws state that the legal age limit for alcohol consumption in Guyana is 18 years and children under the age of 16 are not allowed to be in the bar of any licensed premises, or even purchase alcohol unless they are above 18 years. Additionally, a child should never be asked to go to any licensed premises to buy alcohol.
Upon entering a bar or club overseas, regardless of how old a person appears to be, he/she must submit an Identification Card (ID) to the bouncer to see his/her correct age; if a person is underage or does not have their ID Card, they are not allowed entry into the establishment.
On the other hand, in Guyana, once a person pays the entrance fee into a bar or club, that person is admitted entry, without him/her being asked to submit an ID Card and sold alcohol regardless how old he/she is.
Liquor shops in Guyana are among those establishments guilty of selling alcohol to minors. It appears as if proprietors are more concerned about making a profit than anything else.
While parents should be held accountable, I do think we as a nation should also be held accountable for ignoring this issue. I strongly believe that the legal age limit for alcohol consumption should be increased from 18 to 21 years, and that it should be strictly enforced.
I do hope this is something the new Administration will review and clamp down on.
S. DANIELS