I guess this type of "free up" mentality is what makes the novelty of copious alcohol consumption without censure for Carnival so attractive to those who visit for the first time and are awed by the fact that they can drink themselves into a stupor at fete after fete, not to mention for the two days of the Carnival parade. It is being reported, however, that the "free up attitude" to getting drunk and driving is getting a massive spoke in the wheel as the breathalyser will be implemented in test stages by Christmas Eve and in full by Carnival 2010 as stated by Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert:
Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert has called on motorists to be on guard for this month’s initial phase of breathalyser testing and its full implementation for Carnival 2010. Imbert expects that the first stage of breathalyser-testing in Trinidad and Tobago will begin at strategic locations on Christmas Eve. “The target date I have asked my staff and the police to achieve is December 24,” he said. He also set Carnival 2010 as the proposed deadline for the full implementation of testing throughout the country. “I would say by Carnival next year, all those who want to go and get drunk better be careful because it would not be a good idea to drink and drive because apart from the physical danger, I am certain you will be caught and you will be charged,” Imbert said at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.
“I do not see any difficulties whatsoever in the full implementation of this system and I think we had all better be on guard because it is going to start in this month, December, and I think for Carnival next year it will be in full swing.” Imbert dismissed concerns that staffing constraints in the local police force will obstruct the implementation of the testing. “I do not forsee any manpower problems in terms of locating this 140 or 200 policemen to do this testing,” he said.
What this means to drinkers is that you can drink, but driving is certainly out of the question as it should be. It is one thing to be bombarded with the Arrive Alive message of don't drink and drive and a whole other ball game when you know you can be fined and/or jailed for the offense. Personally I think the breathalyser is a long time coming to Trinidad and Tobago, though it will certainly take some adjusting to in a culture where there is a rum shop on practically every corner.
According to Minister Imbert "an average male of 5 foot 10 tall, weighing about 180 pounds would be able to have less than three - about two and a half - drinks over a period of three hours" to reach the legal limit of alcohol level." Realistically speaking what Mr Imbert is asking is near impossible for even casual drinkers much less for the hearty drinkers, especially those patronizing the all inclusive fetes! After spending $100.00US on average for one of the more popular all inclusives for Carnival, as a drinker you do NOT go for the variety of meal options, you go for the variety of drinks!
A very sobering thought with the breathalyser looming over Carnival 2010 is how will this affect the public when it comes to consuming alcohol at fetes as well as drinking on the road for Monday and Tuesday? Are all inclusive fetes going to be as attractive to the masses knowing that you will not be able to drink with abandon, trying to get your moneys worth if you intend on driving? And after two days of merriment and Johnny Walker on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday how many hours of sobriety will it take for a masquerader, drinking all day, to be legally fit to drive?
My advice to all those who have no intention on changing their drinking habits for Carnival 2010 is to make sure you have a designated driver, one who is DEPENDABLE, and does not drink. I drink, my husband rarely does so he is the designated driver and even he is concerned on how the "legal sobriety limit" will now affect fetes and liming habits of Trinidadians!
If a designated driver is not an option for you have the number of a taxi service on hand,arrange pick up after fetes even if it will cost you extra. Hire group transport to take you to the fetes you are interested in going to, spread the cost among a group of friends. I have seen maxi taxis transporting fete goers to Beach House and Salybia fete, maybe this will be the norm for next year.If all else fails please, please be aware that you will have to sleep it off in your car until you are legally sober enough to drive home.
The drinking freedom many of you would have enjoyed in the past for Carnival is no longer possible, the serious consequences of the breathalyser will hopefully force many to make a choice between getting drunk or getting behind the wheel; if you drink do not drive! I am certain that the police officers will be out in full force for Carnival, if not at any time of the year, setting up Breathalyser Road Blocks after fetes. Imagine being held in jail for failing the breathalyser test on Carnival Friday; you will not see the light of day until Ash Wednesday! Drinkers, you have been duly informed!
SOURCE:
Trinidad Guardian
Trinidad Express
SOURCE:
Trinidad Guardian
Trinidad Express
9 comments:
This is great. I have attended too many car crash funerals in my years.
I hope the law enforcers take note too, as I have seen tipsy if not drunk cops in parties as well (in uniform!)
Information is important though. A guideline of "less than three - about two and a half - drinks over a period of three hours" is just not good enough. As we all know alchohol content varies. Perhaps they need to consider the unit system as in the UK as a better guideline to alcohol consumption. I'm not sure what they do in the US.
PLUS, its good for the environment too if ppl turn toward hiring minivans/maxis etc for groups of ppl. A door to door fete taxi could be a great business too :)
Wonderful news. I never drive myself around for carnival anyway, too freaked out by the left side of the road! LOL
It's going to take a while for this to take hold in the hearts of the people tho. Anticipate the police department making a ton of money enforcing fines as people catch onto the new reality...
ah yes... if i had a 5 cent (copper) for every time i hear about the POLICE doing any work to curtail any driving offense... well... i only need one anyway...
Saucy hit on some other point there that needed attention more than anything else... as i said i only need one copper for under my tongue... not that i drinking any alco to worry about...
ban-d-wagonist
this is for the good but I can asure u that It will have police officers asking/taking for bribe when the individual is caught....
Thats the ugly downside. I have a sick feeling that the policemen ... not the department will be making all the money! Sad.
The breathalyser is a start in the right direction. Too many lives are already lost.
Are there any car services still in existence? Last year I found that many car services listed in the directory are out of business or the phone is out of service. That service would help folks who don't drive or don't want to drive around carnival time.
Saucy, if it's possible, you or any of the bloggers can post up a list of car services for the readers.
Let's just hope it's the sober police officers doing the breath test.
LoL
HQ - I'm not feeling the left side of the road either even if I'm sober so I can't imagine that after drinking at a fete all night!
Saucy - so true about the drinker (me!) going to fetes for the variety of drinks rather than variety of food!
It really is shocking for some of us foreigners to see ppl driving with a drink in their hand out in the open. Although I am used to seeing it, that would never happen in the States. In the US, if you are even caught with an open container in your car(even though you are NOT drinking) it is a crime. The DMV (in almost all states) will automatically confiscate your license even for a first offense for drinking and driving. In some states, if you are parked in your car trying to sleep off the alcohol while remaining in the driver's seat and your keys are in the ignition because you are trying to stay warm with the heat on, you can be arrested and charged with "attempting" to drive while under the influence. The US is pretty tough on DUIs. (Moral: sleep in your back seat!)
It's also difficult to say how many drinks one can have before they reach the legal limit. Many ppl I know say they had a couple of beers and then get caught running a stop sign and next thing you know they are arrested because their blood-alcohol content is .08, the limit where I live.
During Carnival, we always hire a driver with a 25 seater (there's a lot us!) and he takes us to all of our fetes, carnival and to our beach limes or whatever we pay him to do. It's something we plan for and we work it into our Carnival budget. As Saucy said, it may cost more but we all split it and it is well worth the little extra money to have the comfort of knowing that the driver is sober.
Officer, Am Not Drunk...
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