The Management of Carnival 2024 alongside its sponsors has issued the yearly calls for responsible drinking during this festive season. The tagline, “Drink Responsibly”, is on the lips of organisers and revellers alike.

“I appeal to all Saint Lucians to be responsible in their behaviour - in what they drink and their conduct on the roads and of course to ensure that we do not have any acts of indiscipline or violence or crime,” cautioned Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire in June this year.

Yet, it took one somewhat comical interaction between the Prime Minister and a man to really create an awareness of responsible drinking in the minds and hearts of Saint Lucians.

While concluding his visit to Soufriere after the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 2nd, Prime Minister Pierre patronised a local bar and bought drinks for his staff members and the bar’s customers. One man, who appeared to be intoxicated, asked Pierre to buy him hard liquor; the PM denied.

“Ma ka ba ou wom,” Pierre said, a kweyol phrase which translates to, “I’m not giving you rum.”. Pierre offered the man a pick of either a shandy or a ginger ale. 

This interaction was made into a meme on social media and played for laughs, until two days later, a song was composed of the phrase, “Ma ka ba ou wom” by local band DYP.

The message in the song was clear - drink responsibly. The Prime Minister himself has repeatedly said that he does not consume alcohol.

DYP Musical Director, by Thygeson Penn Joseph underscored this message and encouraged alcohol consumers to drink in moderation.

“The festivities often lead to excessive alcohol consumption, and the band aims to encourage individuals to exercise caution and moderation,” he said.

Regional public health agencies are rallying together to address alcoholism in the region. Meanwhile, Saint Lucians are rallying together, drinking shandies and ginger ales.