Drink responsibly at Fantastic Friday, Prime Minister urges

Persons attending Fantastic Friday tonight at Victoria Park have been urged to drink responsibly.

The calypso semi-finals, popularly known as Fantastic Friday, are being marketed this year as an all-inclusive event,{{more}} at which the admission fee of $30 also allows patrons unlimited drinks from the St Vincent Brewery Ltd, sponsors of the show.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves expressed his concern about what could be seen as encouraging drunkeness.

“Mr Speaker, I am sure that persons are not going there to drink Vita Malt in excess of the $30 worth… or soft drinks. I think we are going to have a lot of beers and Guinness consumed. What gets me concerned is that there is likely to be drunkenness, and some people who are driving, and I am very concerned about that.

“I don’t believe that we should be encouraging an activity, which is promoting in one form or another, drunkenness. I just want to say that. I don’t want to spoil people fun; I am not a killjoy. I love fun. I want to say that, so that, while you are going there to enjoy yourself, please, try not to drink so much,” he said.

The Prime Minister said while he has the authority to tell the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) not to go ahead with the activity, he understands they have a contractual arrangement with the brewery.

“I have been told, but I am just asking the CDC, the brewery and very important, the people who are going there, despite the fact that you can drink as much as you want, try not to overdo it and be responsible.”

St Vincent Brewery Ltd are manufacturers of several products, including Hairoun and Presidente beers, Vita Malt, ginger ale, bitter lemon, fruit cocktail, kola champagne and other soft drinks.