Bermuda’s adult population must take personal responsibility to make alcohol less accessible to young people.

This was the message from Anthony Santucci, the executive director of the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, as he addressed the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday afternoon.

Mr Santucci spoke to Rotarians as part of Alcohol Awareness Month, taking place throughout April on the island, which aims to increase public understanding, reduce stigma and shine a light on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues.

He encouraged parents to engage with their children about addictive substances, rather than simply lecturing them or reading the riot act. “As parents and guardians, we want to have all the answers,” Mr Santucci said.

“And sometimes we are so anxious to share our wisdom that we don’t take the time to listen. For kids, knowing that we are really listening is the most important thing we can do to help.”

Mr Santucci also reiterated Cada’s lobbying plans to help to improve Bermuda’s relationship with alcohol.

Prospective initiatives include sobriety checkpoints, mandatory alcohol testing for all collisions which cause injury, the establishment of an Alcohol Bureau of Control and the introduction of “social hosting” legislation, which would impose lawful liability on those serving alcohol to minors and adults who are already intoxicated.

Mr Santucci said: “Remember, the young mind is the easiest to be trained.

Hence, it should become a priority for parents and other responsible adults within the home to encourage responsible alcohol behaviour.

“So parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, cousins and neighbours — as adults, we must take personal responsibility for making sure alcohol is less accessible to Bermuda’s young people.

“These are the young people for whom we are responsible.”