Why we must Think Twice about our use of alcohol |21 February 2009
Below is the minister’s speech.
Welcome to the official launch of the 2009 campaign against the abuse of alcohol in the country. Your presence here signifies your desire and, perhaps, your commitment to this issue.
Minister Lloyd (picture right) addressing guests during the launching ceremony
Let me reiterate before I say anything else that the campaign is against alcohol abuse, and not alcohol per se. We recognise that alcohol, as a legal drug, brings pleasure to many of our citizens as they socialise with their friends, family members and colleagues.
Our concern at the Drug and Alcohol Council is about the abuse of the substance and the pain and misery it can cause to countless people when this happens.
Indeed, why be concerned about alcohol abuse at all? Alcohol has been with us through centuries and it is enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
In the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the picture we see is greatly different from that seen by other organisations and ministries.
So, what do we see?
In the Health Division, we see that at least 60% of our bed occupancy in the male medical wards is due to patients who are suffering from physical illnesses linked to alcohol abuse. We see that at least 35% of the patients at the psychiatric ward come in for treatment because they are experiencing psychoses due to excessive alcohol consumption.
The picture would be blurred and incomplete if we did not add the number of parents and children whose lives have been turned upside down by the dependence of a partner, a father, a husband, a wife, a mother, a father or even a sibling on alcohol.
In Social Development we see the incessant and repetitive pattern of drinking to excess followed by domestic violence, fear, oppression and abuse in all its forms – physical, emotional and even sexual. And let us not forget the problems with the family budget when the father or mother drinks to excess.
There is no doubt in my mind that abuse of alcohol is a major social ill – indeed one that has been with us for a long time. However, we must – all of us – make a renewed effort to combat it. This is where the Mazin De Fwa or Think Twice (the campaign’s theme) comes in.
The main focus of the campaign is an invitation to think about our habits, our customs, about our social norms and even about our culture in relation to alcohol. What is the role and place of alcohol consumption in our society?
Does it function as a legitimate and enjoyable social lubricant and personal relaxant? Or does it function as an end in itself, where getting drunk or finishing all the drinks made available at the party is the one and only goal?
Has alcohol used in social settings become the monster that reveals family secrets in the Holy Communion celebrations at around 4pm? Has the abuse become the monster that opens the floodgates to hatred and violence that ruin the party and send the children whose birthday was being celebrated running out of the house in fear and shame?
What answer do we give to these questions?
Mazin De Fwa will be asking us to reflect on these issues throughout the year. However, reflections will not solve the problems caused by alcohol abuse. They are only starting points.
The campaign will also provide information on what are acceptable limits of alcohol consumption for male and female adults. It will invite our nation to take responsibility for their drinking and its possible consequences.
If we are going to drink, then we must not drive. We need to get home using a taxi or have a friend drive us back. In many other countries, a designated driver is the acceptable norm; it can be so for Seychelles as well.
Mazin De Fwa will also be inviting us to use our common sense when we are having parties. Some practices may have to be adopted to ensure that all adults, those who drink and those who do not drink, enjoy the party in equal measure.
No need for top-ups. Finish the drink given so that you are able to track your consumption. Eat while consuming to reduce the rate of absorption of the alcohol. These and many other measures will be discussed and presented to members of the public.
Mazin De Fwa will be a comprehensive campaign, exploiting all types of media – audio, visual and written. Expect to find articles in all newspapers. Expect to find television and radio programmes tackling all these issues.
We want to reach everybody – policy makers, parents, teachers, children, health and social professionals, retailers and local manufacturers of alcoholic beverages. We will invite everybody to take their responsibility in all matters concerning alcohol production, distribution, advertising and sale. We will invite everybody to think twice.
I call upon everyone, all stakeholders, all Seychellois to help and give their commitment to this campaign. It is for us. It is for a better society.
I hope that together we can make a difference. This is an issue that concerns us all and impact on national development.
I now have great pleasure to launch the 2009 national campaign against alcohol abuse: Mazin De Fwa.
Koste Seselwa for a better Seychelles. One without the scourge of alcohol abuse.
Refleksyon par Miss Regatta pour lansman kanpanny kont labi lalkol
Dan sa lannen kot nou pe ganny demande pour nou koste zepol ansanm pour travay pour byennet nou pti pei, sa bann problenm lasante, sosyal e ekonomik ki labi lalkol i anmennen pe pran en nouvo lanpler. Se dan bann moman difisil ki dimoun pe rod trankilite ek lape. E menm petet zot pe esey oubliy zot problenm toulezour. Se dan sa bann moman menm ki bokou dimoun i tourn ver lalkol, oubyen drog, ki dapre zot se bann solisyon pour rezourd zot problenm.
Labi lalkol i anmenn en kantite problenm. La mon pou koz konman en zenn fiy isi Sesel. Ler zenn i konsonm lalkol san kontrol, zot viv dan en leta devergonde kot zot mank respe pour lezot e osi pour zot prop lekor.
La zot fer bann zes ek bann aksyon ki, enn fwa ler zot azen, zot regret en kantite. Zot kapab fer bann aksyon tel ki seks bonnavini ek bann dimoun ki zot pa ni menm konnen oubyen kontan. Oubyen ler zot remark sa bann dimoun lizour, zot demann zot lekor si zot ti fou/fol yer swar.
Dan ka bann zenn fiy, deplizanpli i annan plis konplikasyon ler zot bwar san kontrol e san responsabilite. Zot kapab tonm ansent san okouran lekel papa zot zanfan. Zot menm kapab atrap enn ou plizyer maladi transmet par seks.
I kler ki bann fiy ek bann madanm pe vin en “market” enportan dan lavant lalkol. Menm dan bann pei deor e pareyman isi Sesel, nou vwar bann labwason ki annan bokou kouler, ki dou e ki’n ganny fer spesysalman pour atir bann fiy ek bann madanm. E petet osi bann zanfan!? Annou mazin de fwa!
Fodre nou vizilan. Fodre nou veye ki nou bann fanmiy, zanmi ek koleg nenport ki laz pa tonm dan sa latrap ; setadir, tonm dan sa lanfer labi lalkol ek tou son bann problenm ki asosye avek. Nou bann fiy ek madanm, sirtou avek nou striktir lafanmir, kot nou vwar nou pe pran plis responsabilite, fodre fer atansyon e reste vizilan.
Nou tou prezan, mazin de fwa!
Ki lavenir si manman i bwar? Ki lavenir si papa i bwar? Ki lavenir si gran ser ou gran frer i bwar? Lekel ki pou tenir sa fanmir?
Mon pa pe dir dimoun pa bwar.
Me… Sa ki’n fer son swa pour pa bwar, annou annan respe pour li e pa esey fors li pour bwar dan bann lafet kot lakour ek bann outing. Annou respe son swa.
Sa ki’n swazir pour bwar, fer li avek respe ek responsabilite. Pa bezwen servi an ekse. Si ou abiz lalkol i pou abiz ou.
Konman Mis Regatta 2008, mon donn zot mon langazman ozordi pour lalit konn labi lalkol dan tou son laform. Mon konvenki ki nou kapab fer keksoz pour sanz nou bann latitid, nou bann mers ki met nou dan en kantite problenm e menm pourkwa pa, nou kiltir oubyen sa bann parti nou kiltir ki negativ. Mwan, konman en zenn fiy, mon’n pran sa responsabilite pour sey ankouraz bann lezot zenn pour viv byen. Mon pare pour donn en koudmen pour en meyer demen pour nou pei.
Annou koste Seselwa ! Annou pa ezite pour konbat labi lalkol !
Sandra Victor
Alcohol use and abuse in Seychelles
The director of the Drug and Alcohol Council, Benjamin Vel, on Thursday gave a detailed 
He said in 2003, a National Alcohol Strategy was put in place. It aims to limit consumption and harm caused by alcohol abuse and pays special attention to abuse by
children, its relationship to entertainment and also covers advertising, production, home-brewed alcohols and the danger of combining drinking and driving.
Four main sectors
Alcohol in Seychelles is produced in four main sectors in formal and industrial production dominated by the islands’ sole brewery, Seychelles Breweries Limited and the Trois Frères Distillery.
Formal and cottage-industry production also occurs where baka is made from fermented sugar cane juice with no distillation.
Lapire which is fermented fruit and vegetable juices is made with no distillation from potatoes, rice, lentils, pineapple and other products.
Mr Vel said the illicit traditional drinks are made for sale illegally or at home for domestic use.
In the formal industrial sector there are 10 local producers who come up with 40 products. The number has gone up from five producers for 25 products three years ago.
Over 7 million litres of alcohol were produced in 2007 but Mr Vel said it is no longer clear how much is produced now, but there are 109 legal baka and lapire sheds and 326 illegal ones whose total production is unknown.
“Most baka sheds are in Anse Royale district which has 14 of them.
Baka consumers
Over 31% of those who use baka, drink everyday, 12% fewer than once a week but 90% of lapire users drink it every day and 2% fewer than once a week.
70% male patients have diseases linked to excessive alcohol use and more than 30% Centre Mont Royal clients more than 45% Psychiatric Unit patients are alcohol abusers.
“Alcohol is present in all social problems – child abuse, domestic violence, violent crimes, road accidents.”
Emerging issues
Mr Vel said among the emerging issues are increasing alcohol consumption by girls and women as well as growing misconceptions about dangers of alcohol abuse in the population.
He said there is increased abuse of alcohol by children on any occasion that present itself – school holidays, Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day and religious feasts.