Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 25, 2010 (SKNIS): “Too Smart to Start – Choose No Booze” is the slogan for this afternoon’s Youth Rally which is designed to demonstrate the negative effects of alcohol and substance use on health and wellbeing.
 
Although all age groups are invited to the rally which takes place at 4:00 p.m. in Independence Square, valuable information will specifically target young men between the ages of 15 and 35 years of age.  This is due to the fact that a survey compiled in 2009, revealed that 23.5 percent of adult males between 25 to 34 years of age drank heavily – five or more drinks per day; and 51 percent drank more than 20 drinks in seven days. 
 
The survey is based on 2006 – 2008 data of the St. Kitts Health Information Unit and other national, regional and international databases.  Additionally, the hospital report for 2009 reveals that 13.3 percent of emergency visits were due to motor vehicle accidents and of the total related admissions 56.8 percent involved youth under 36 years of age.  The Rally will therefore draw the link between harmful drinking and other risky behaviours which impact health and wellbeing. 
 
The Youth Rally is therefore an outreach activity, specifically for the mentioned age group as a means of educating and making them aware of issues relevant to them.  It is planned to take place in connection with the activities of “International Men’s Day” which was commemorated November 19 as well as with Youth Month which is acknowledged in November in St. Kitts.
 
Highlights of the Rally include an interactive presentation by Grenadian Youth Motivator, Arthur Pierre and the production of “Naïve Young Drunkards” and “Domesticated Man” by Poinciana Theatre Productions.
 
“Too Smart to Start – Choose No Booze” is the concluding activity for the Men’s Health Campaign which was sponsored by the Basic Needs Trust Fund and implemented by the Ministry of Health.  One of the successful activities of the Campaign was the Men’s Health Forum which had been titled “Sexual Desire, Drive and Disorder – Preserving Your Health,” which was attended by over 400 men.  There were also workplace screenings and community outreach testing that attracted men from various age groups.