Social commentator Claude Skelton Cline has sounded an alarm about what he calls a growing "rum shop culture" taking hold across the British Virgin Islands, warning that the proliferation of drinking establishments poses serious risks to public health and social wellbeing.
During an appearance on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline pointed to the speed at which new bars are opening throughout the territory. He questioned whether authorities and the public were adequately considering the consequences. "Every corner, sometimes two or three on the same street, every time I turn around, now a new bar is popping up; how is this possible?" he said.
The commentator predicted that heavy reliance on alcohol consumption would produce what he termed "functional drunks" and forecast a rise in domestic violence and abuse. He suggested that the surge in bars signals a deeper malaise, with residents using alcohol to escape personal hardship.
"When you see bars popping up everywhere, it's a sign that the people of that country are anaesthetising their pain with this drug, and alcohol is a drug," Skelton Cline stated.
He expressed particular worry about drinking patterns among young people, notably young women, though he clarified his position was not against occasional consumption. Rather, he questioned the toll of normalising alcohol use as a routine weekly or daily practice.
Skelton Cline also demanded clarity on the licensing regime, asking which officials were approving bar and liquor permits. He contended that the pursuit of revenue should not override public health priorities or cultural protection, arguing that the territory was sacrificing resident welfare and cultural integrity for financial returns.
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