THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN THIS extended holiday season, it would be wise to be mindful of the 'two-edged sword effect' of alcohol. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hazardous alcohol use is "a pattern of alcohol consumption carrying with it the risk of harmful consequences." These consequences can be mental, physical and social. It includes consumption beyond the standard recommended by health authorities, or imposed by the law.
The WHO states that a standard drink contains 10 grams or 0.35 ounce of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to 30 millilitres of spirit (whisky, gin or vodka), 100 millilitres of wine and 250 millilitres of beer. A standard 140 mls of wine (about a five-ounce glass would be approximately 12 per cent alcohol, a single shot of spirit (40 millilitres) at 40 per cent alcohol, and a small glass of liqueur (70 millilitres) at 25 per cent alcohol. Here in Jamaica, a Red Stripe beer is 341 millilitres at 4.7 per cent alcohol, Red Stripe light 275 mls at 3.6 per cent alcohol, a Dragon, 284 millilitres at 7.5 per cent alcohol, Heineken 284 millilitres at five per cent alcohol, Guinness 27.5 mls at 6.5 mls alcohol, Smirnoff Ice 275 mls at 5.5 per cent alcohol.
Information-processing capability and the inability to recognise risk is decreased so that persons can be easily lead into traps. Reflexes and coordination slow down. The judging of distances, the focus on distant objects, along with peripheral vision are severely reduced leading to increased possibility for motor vehicle accidents.
We all know what to do, we hear it everyday: don't drink and drive, don't allow someone who has been drinking to drive, exercise self control; don't heed to peer pressure, and 2006 will meet you alive.
I am, etc.,
GRACE CHAMBERS
Port Antonio, Portland
