By Fareeza Haniff?Apart from being one of the primary causes for underdevelopment in Guyana, alcohol has also been identified as the country’s number one drug problem.From a two-day discussion on alcohol control which was hosted by the Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), it was also found that alcohol is the number one drug of choice for youths, and results in a host of physical, legal, economic and social consequences for them and the communities in which they live.It was noted that it is a fact that the alcohol industry earns approximately $22 billion annually from underage drinkers, mostly from beers, while a total of $4.8 billion is spent on alcohol advertising, which aims to ‘normalize’ drinking.Research shows that youths who drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence and two and a half times more likely to become alcohol abusers than those who wait until the age of 21.Alcohol abuse has many potential consequences including accidental falls, burns,http://www.airmaxfantasy.us.com/1600-New-Balance/, drowning, brain damage, cirrhosis in the liver, impaired driving, pregnancy, poor school performance, work productivity loss, sexual assault, truancy, violence and vandalism.At the workshop it was observed that there is a drinking pattern between adult and youths who drink, as it was explained that while adults sip/consume alcohol moderately, youths would guzzle/gulp. Most adults would drink at home, while youths would cruise around in cars.Other than this, alcohol options have also changed over the years, as a wide array of new alcohol beverage products now appeal to youths.Today, the new container sizes encourage greater consumption as instead of a 12 oz standard beer,Jerseys Cheap NFL, there are now 32,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, 40 and 60 oz containers of beers.Though, it might not be known, communities may unintentionally promote youth alcohol use by allowing alcohol sponsorship at youth-related events.But what is different about youths drinking today? In this regard, it was explained that before, many youths would pool their money and buy alcohol, now everyone has cash.While youths used to ‘meet up’, there is now cell phone and text messaging and instead of six packs of beer being shared by the group,Arizona Diamondbacks Fernando Rodney Jersey, there is now large quantities of alcohol available.The participants of the workshop, who were drawn from the National Drug Demand Strategy Committee that was put together to oversee the development and implementation of the drug master plan, therefore recommend that focus must be placed on what’s going on inside a person such as assessing their feelings and individual choices if there is to be change.Much emphasis must also be placed on what is going on around them, like the type of conditions in the environment.Prevention strategies must also focus on behaviour feelings and skills, school based education programs, counseling services, incentives for healthy behaviour,NFL Jerseys Outlet, and alternative activities for youths among others.It was also pointed out that policy interventions must be able to effectively prevent alcohol problems and must focus on the availability of alcohol, as effective policies address the price, place, product and promotion of alcohol products.The participants also urged for the laws to be enforced as they relate to the minimum age purchase laws, aimed at retailers, adults and youths.It was recently reported that the Guyana government collects some $2 billion in taxes from alcohol purchases, on a yearly basis,Jerseys From China, but Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had said that the taxes collected only comprise a small part of what the government actually spends on the health sector.It was noted that close to 60 percent of youths between the ages of 13 and 15 would have taken a drink at some time.