Public wants tougher enforcement of liquor laws
However the investigation concludes, it is clear that alcohol played a major role in the death of David Zabaneh Jr. Today we asked members of the public how they feel about the all too common practice of underage drinking at Belizean bars, in the wake of last week’s tragedy.
Citizen #1
“First of all I believe that teenagers should not be allowed in bars at any rate. I think that those that are allowed to run the bars must make sure that they do not, under no circumstances sell alcohol to teenagers.”
Citizen #2
“The people who own these places, all they care about is collecting the money and you get in. They don’t really care about the age limit to enter a club that’s why these things are happening now. They have to bring more pressure on those places.”
Citizen #3
“They should stop them at the door and ask them for an I.D. so that they can show how old they are.”
Citizen #4
“I blame the parents and I blame the bar keep, both of them. I don’t think you should have a child that’s fourteen years old and not know where that child is. If you call yourself a parents and if you believe that you are doing the right thing, you should know every movement you child makes.”
Citizen #5
“Ministers of government have to regulate the shop keepers from selling liquor to underage kids because it causes a problem. Look at the death of the young man that died the other day. That could have been avoided.”
Citizen #1
“Personally I don’t drink, but I’ve seen young people in the streets with beer bottles on bicycles, and I think the authorities should do something about it.”
Citizen #6
“Killing, kidnapping and all these stuff.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“How do you see your little Belize going?”
Citizen #6
“Going to hell.”
Authorities have talked about the need to tighten up on underage drinking but the general feeling is that any crackdown will be another “nine days wonder” that will go the way of recent campaigns against illegal bicycle riding, traffic offenses and so called curfew for teenagers.
