KEY strategies for preventing and treating alcohol misuse in the Jamaican society were the focus of a compelling panel discussion around the theme ‘Beyond the Tagline: Unpacking Responsible Consumption’ at the fourth staging of the Red Stripe Responsibility Now! town hall held on Wednesday.

The discussion featured key stakeholders who delved into the challenges spanning various sectors and societal dynamics relating to the push for responsible drinking.

Among the panellists were author Andrew Folkes; general practitioner Dr Shane Alexis;RISE Life Management counsellor and substance abuse specialist, Sarah Templeton; Lupine Technologies (Cerbr) CEO Reynold James, and cultural and entertainment affairs chairperson at The University of the West Indies, Raynor Honeyghan.

Dr Alexis took the lead in examining the effects of alcohol on the body from a medical perspective, addressing the need to study psychological impacts before delving into policy considerations.

“I think it’s well known that the abuse or misuse of anything can cause a problem. Moderation has to be at the forefront. It is a perfect storm when you abuse anything, and one of the things I think we can build on is changing behaviours and changing attitudes towards things around us,” said Dr Alexis.

He was supported by Templeton, who stressed the need to consider the psychological impact of alcohol abuse and advocated for broader support for facilities dedicated to treating and preventing irresponsible drinking.

“A lot of people are not in tune with what problematic drinking is because it is so normalised in society. There are not a lot of services available locally to treat these issues — and so we need more investment and understanding to properly address substance abuse,” said Templeton.

In the meantime, Folkes contributed a personal perspective, sharing insights from his journey dealing with alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

Hailing from an inner-city community, Folkes highlighted the lack of social intervention programmes and support at the national level while commending Red Stripe for its commitment to promoting responsible drinking and leading this whole-of-society approach to the topic.

Honeyghan shed light on the strides made at the university level to tackle the issue, especially since many students have recently reached the legal drinking age.

He highlighted the university’s flagship campaign, Level Di Liquor, which promotes responsible consumption.

“We also have The UWI One Love programme where students can reach out to the guild and receive counselling. We understand the pressures of being a university student — from tuition fees to living on hall or even having to work while going to school. So we provide this year-long medium which is a part of the students’ health insurance,” said Honeyghan.

Exploring how to leverage the benefits of technology in promoting responsible consumption, James highlighted the need for safer transportation solutions, especially for those who have consumed alcohol, inspired the creation of his ride-share application, Cerbr.

“Many people don’t know their limit, and you can go out and you’re having a good time and one drink turns into three, four, or five, and before you know it, you can’t drive home. It is essential for tech solutions to exist that can prevent alcohol consumption leading to more serious outcomes, like road accidents,” said James.

The fourth edition of Red Stripe’s ‘Responsibility Now!’ town hall fostered a healthy discussion on long-term solutions and perspectives, contributing to a comprehensive national response to tackle the issue of irresponsible drinking.