Sir Vivian Richards (second left) has the full attention of Mark McKenzie (left), managing director, Red Stripe; Ambassador Courtney Walsh (centre); Errol Simms (second right), head of management studies at the University of the West Indies; and Noel DaCosta, director - corporate relations at Diageo Caribbean, during a press conference at Cuddy'z in New Kingston. Diageo is the distributor of Johnnie Walker. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Drinking and driving is a significant problem that continues to persist in the Caribbean. According to a survey conducted last month, the most worrying statistic is that 54 per cent of all males questioned admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol on one or more occasions every week.

Statistics gathered also indicated that 59 per cent of those same males surveyed said they were very concerned about the issue of drink-driving and stricter law enforcement was the way to go.

These results were announced by Dr Errol Simms, head of management studies at the University of the West Indies, during the launch of the Johnnie Walker 'Know Your Boundaries' responsible drinking campaign at Cuddy'z, New Kingston, yesterday.

Not surprising

"The fact that over half the men surveyed said they drive after drinking every week is a worrying statistic, but not an altogether surprising one," Simms said. "In most of the countries throughout the Caribbean, the public-transport network is not extensive enough to get people home safely at nights, which leaves them no choice."

The survey was conducted to assess the latest consumer attitudes towards alcohol consumption and drink-driving with males and females between the ages of 18 and 50. Persons questioned ranged across five countries in the Caribbean including Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad.

In Jamaica, 90 per cent of those questioned admitted to drink-driving despite persons being aware of and concerned about the issue. This occurrence was less prevalent among women, who account for 34 per cent in the Caribbean and 74 per cent in Jamaica.

Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards, in collaboration with Johnnie Walker, created the questionnaire, supervised the execution and analysed the results of the survey.

"When I got involved with Johnnie Walker, I felt it was a wonderful enough campaign for me to be associated with," Richards said. "One of the main points we want to drum home is the issue of drink-driving in our region and the various ways in which we are about to tackle this particular situation."

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com