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2.2 Million Cases of Beer
Consumed in December; Cerveceria
Study Reveals
According to a study by the
Cervecería Costa Rica, the
national brewery that brings to
the table the beers Imperial,
Pilsen, Rock Ice and many more,
shows that more than 2.200.000
cases of beer were consumed in
December 2006.
The Cerveceria says the
consumption was 60% above the
monthly normal and taking into
consideration that there were
three "dry" days during the
month due to the municipal
elections on December 3. The "Ley
Seca" affected all restaurants,
hotels and bars that could not
sell liquor during the day
before, day of and day after the
municipal elections.
According to Carlos Francisco
Echeverría, corporate director
of Florida y Bebidas that owns
the Cerverceria, 7% of Costa
Ricans are alcoholic. The
majority of the remaining 93%
are social drinkers or do not
drink at all, but no break down
figures were revealed.
"Definitely there are seasons of
high alcohol consumption.
December and Semana Santa
(Easter) clearly show the trend
due to the increased sales
during those periods", said
Echeverría.
The annual festivals are also a
time for high alcohol
consumption. The annual Zapote
fair (which was cancelled for
2006), Palmares and Puntarenas
festivals see high sales of
beer, according to the directora
of the Instituto de Alcoholismo
y Farmacodependencia (IAFA),
Vera Barahona. Barahona said
that people take advantage of
the festivals to increase their
alcohol consumption.
Barahona added that it is time
for these customs of Costa
Ricans consuming more alcohol
during festival and holidays to
change, as it affects many
different social aspects,
including labour, as a person
under the influence of alcohol
is not productive.
Many traffic accidents are
directly related to the
consumption of alcohol, who not
only affects the drunk driver,
but also other drivers and
pedestrians who continue to lose
their lives to drunk drivers.
The Cerverceria Costa Rica has
implemented a "chofer designado"
(designated driver) program with
billboards and television and
newspaper ads, though the
results have not been tabulated.
Barhona added that the Costa
Rican society has to be
educated, because many abuse
alcohol for lack of
understanding and knowledge of
the affects of alcohol abuse
that also affects interpersonal
relationships and family.
The IAFA director said that
studies show that Costa Ricans
begin drinking around the age of
10 or 11. "The fact that a 10
year takes their first taste of
alcohol complicates the
situation, because the earlier a
person begins to consume
alcohol, the consequences become
more serious and the
deterioration of health begins
earlier", said Barhona.
Barhona added that her
organization cannot do anything
to control the abuse as it does
not have the power to control
the sale or beer and liquor to
minors, as that control lies in
the hands of the Ministerio de
Seguridad and police
organizations and municipalities
who give out the licenses.
The IAFA director said that her
organization can only make
recommendations, like the
prohibition of advertising of
alcohol. Barhona said an
agreement with the World Health
Organization exists but it still
has to be ratified by the
Legislative Assembly, which
project is just a dream.
The IAFA statistics show that
historically men consume more
alcohol than women. However,
that trend had been changing
over the last few years, due to
many factors, like the women
entering the work force and
having more disposable income,
gender equality and group
pressure, as women participate
in more social activities where
alcohol is present.
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