Government has declared April as ‘Alcohol Awareness Month’ and asked the Island to come together to help stem underage drinking and drunk driving.

Last year, Police dealt with 130 road traffic accidents that resulted from drink driving and impairment.

Minister of Social Rehabilitation, Dale Butler, read a proclamation yesterday on the steps of City Hall.

The primary focus of the awareness campaign will be towards the sale and consumption of alcohol at community events, such as Good Friday, Cup Match, and Bermuda Day.

The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (CADA), in conjunction with the Ministry, put forward a number of initiatives to help change the trends and bring about more responsibility.

CADA chairman Anthony Santucci, Acting Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley, Deputy Hamilton Mayor William Black and Deputy Police Commissioner Roseanda Young, were among those in attendance.

Several initiatives were put forward by the Minister to help change the trends and bring about more responsibility.

Some of them included: Locating alcohol sales areas away from activities of family and children, ensuring the maximum cup size of alcohol is no more than 12 to14 oz and making sure that servers don’t drink while serving it.

Mr. Butler said: “Beginning this month, let’s work together to keep alcohol out of the hands of our children at community events.

“Why? Because underage drinking is associated with car crashes, vandalism, assaults, date rape, and many other tragedies.

“While driving under the influence puts everyone at risk of injury or death due to accidents.” He also warned that organisations which sponsor community events can be held liable if a tragedy were to occur as a result of underage drinking.

Acting Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley echoed the sentiments of the Minister by adding: “It is clear to me on reading the proclamation for Alcohol Awareness month that we are living with a serious deep-seated problem.

“It is a problem that weakens our performance as a society.” Mr. Dunkley said Government alone cannot bring an end to the problem. Instead it will take the efforts of parents, adults, and others in the community to help.

“To reduce it, to save more lives, to prevent more children from taking that first early drink, it is going to take all of us to make a commitment and try to set an example.” Under Bermuda law, Organisations caught selling alcohol to people under the age of 18, face a fine of up to $10,000.

Speaking on behalf of the Police, Roseanda Young, spoke of the consequences suffered by those who ignore the campaign’s message.

Around 50 students from the Paget Primary and Victor Scott Primary Schools were also present.

They were there as part of the Lions Quest Life Skills programme, which is co-ordinated by CADA, to educate youngsters on the dangers of drug abuse. Mrs. Young warned the youngsters about the “tragic” grief underage drinking can have on their families. She said: “You are influenced by us as adults. The Bermuda Police Service has to investigate every accident that happens, especially if someone has died from the accident.

“Then we are responsible for going to those families and breaking the bad news. It is absolutely horrendous to see the sadness that this brings.

“The Bermuda Police Service stands firmly behind the efforts placed on those who do not drink and drive.” And to drive home the message, a wrecked car with missing wheels and a smashed windshield, was on display at the City Hall grounds.

Founded more than thirty years ago, CADA was originally apart of Bermuda’s Alcoholics Anonymous programme, and later re-branded itself to address the prevalence of alcohol abuse.

Funded by Government, its mandate aims to reduce underage drinking as well as educating and raising awareness on the Island.