The Mental Health Association also had praise for Commissioner of Police, Williams, for, quote, "drawing attention to the role alcohol plays in criminal and unsafe activities in Belize."
But a statement from the NGO states, quote, "this is a complex problem with mental health implications that the police cannot solve alone. Alcohol abuse and addiction blights the lives of many individuals and their families. Tackling it will involve changing societal attitudes that in Belize tend to normalize alcohol and equate drinking with enjoyment. Altering these attitudes means changing the way we discuss alcohol. The use of the euphemism "socializing" when discussing public drinking implies that persons need to consume alcohol to enjoy the company of others."
The statement closes by, quote, "calling on all organizations to educate themselves on the disastrous effects of alcohol abuse…" End quote.
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