The Lagos State Government has expressed concern over the rate bars keep springing up which has in turn brought about an increase in the record of alcohol-induced crashes in the state.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, who stated this during the curtain raiser for the 2018 “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign held at Ikeja, bars in the state have become innumerable resulting in an increase in alcohol consumption, particularly among the youth.
He noted that the level of consumption by youths has increased on daily basis with the establishment of restaurants and bars at virtually every part of the state.
Bamigbetan explained that his assertion was based on the record released by a market research data group known as Global Data which estimated five per cent biennial increase rate.
“The Lagos state government is concerned with the high level of increase in the number of bars in the state as this has resulted in increase of youths who indulge in uncontrolled consumption of hard drinks and alcohol.
“From the record, we gathered that bars are established in virtually every party of the state.
“The state government feels so concerned with the situation as it affects human lives,” Bamigbetan stated.
He disclosed that the state government wasn’t frowning at the establishment of the bars across the state but urged the patronisers not to indulge themselves in drink-and-drive habit as that could hamper the continued existence of lives and property.
He said, “Although the government is not against establishment of bars but there should be control on the rate of consumption of alcohol especially by our youths.
“In order to reduce the effects of alcohol particular during the festival season, the Lagos State government has been partnering with relevant security agent to arrest the situation.”
In addition, the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Hyginus Omeje stated that the level of alcohol consumption prompted the agency to deploy the seven breathalysers donated to it across the state.
Comentários