07/04/2007 00:00
TW
0
Staff Reporter

PALMA
PALMA council will distribute 20'000 D.I.Y. alcohol testing kits during an awareness campaign which started last night at the April Fair.
This will be the starting point, during the next few days some 5'000 bars and restaurants will be incorporated into this initiative, whose objective is to avoid traffic accidents.

This was announced by the deputy mayor of the Sports and Youth department, Rafel Duran, who explained that this is the main point of the programme “Whoever drives should not drink”.

The campaign will also include the distribution of leaflets with information about the limits of alcohol consumption for men and women, distinguishing between beer, wine and whisky.

At the presentation of the campaign were the councillors for Social Services and Work, Margalida Ferrando, and Economy and Commerce, Sebastia Sanso, whose departments will supply part of the 15'000 euro budget; the head of the Association of Bars, Cafeterias and Restaurants, Eduardo Suarez; and the President of the Hostelry division of PIMEM (small and medium sized businesses federation), Joan Cabrera.

The two restaurant sector associations will play an important role in the development of the new preventative plan, as they will encourage their members to participate voluntarily in the initiative and give their clients access to the alcohol meters and the leaflets in highly visible places in their establishments, such as on the bar, or at the exit door.

Duran recalled that traffic accidents caused by excessive consumption of alcohol and speeding, and not wearing a seat belt, were the main causes of death among young people between 18 and 20 years old.

He said he considered that this justified that three council departments and two restaurateurs federations had joined forces to start this campaign, which could later be extended to the areas where young people practice the “botellon” (binge drinking) at the weekend. With regard to the use of the alcohol meters, Duran said that they can only be used once and explained that the person should blow into the tube three times for a period of 10 seconds, and wait a minute and a half to see what colour the crystals turn.

This colour can vary from their original yellow (below the limit) to a greener shade (over the limit). The limit is 0.5 grams per litre.