This week seemed full of surprises globally and, certainly, here on our island paradise. US$5,000 election promises came along with an election seemingly giving the AfD — a German far-right political party — control of a major region in Germany. These have significant political and economic consequences down the line. However, as it pertains to us, the surprise of the week should have been written in the stars for well over fifteen years. That last part is by my estimation, but we in Barbados still do a terrible job at “economic astronavigation”.
Here, the private sector this week made two alarming statements: 1. That rum consumption is down amongst younger drinkers (possibly those falling within Gen Z); and 2. That there needs to be a local solution, legislative or business-oriented, for the disposal of old or damaged lithium-ion batteries from electric or hybrid vehicles. The former was supported by one government investment agency. I was shocked that they could only now be making these proclamations. The economic impacts of both have been unfolding around us for the period previously stated.
As it pertains to battery technology, I think it’s funny that a solution to the problem of not having the proper means for disposal or repurposing is “…an entrepreneur”. The feeling is that someone out there, smart and innovative, must start up something that takes best practices (or creates them, for that matter) and implements them locally. I couldn’t help but chuckle that the goodly gentleman hadn’t known of, or given credit to, a few of the local companies that already repurpose batteries from vehicles and convert them for home use. I won’t publish those here, but a quick Google search or a call to other members of that community would have prevented such a statement from being carried.
It is clear to me that something is off. Collaboration within the green energy industry leaves a lot to be desired if an entrepreneur is now needed to facilitate disposal and repurposing. Electric and hybrid vehicles have been around for more than a decade and are becoming an increasingly significant part of our economies. Solar batteries have been around for far longer.
Lithium-ion batteries are dangerous if not disposed of properly. The electrolyte salt, lithium hexafluorophosphate, is one of their most hazardous components. When exposed to moisture or ambient air, such as during battery damage, landfill disposal or fire, it can react with water, in the air or otherwise, to form hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is extremely corrosive, highly toxic to living organisms, penetrates human tissue and severely damages soil and aquatic ecosystems. We have seen or heard of badly damaged electric and hybrid vehicles plenty of times over the years. We have heard the same about home and commercially distributed systems. The disposal of these damaged batteries has not been communicated well to the general public. A survey would easily reveal that most Barbadians would think straight to the dump.
Therein lies my grouse. We are all aware of the numerous calls by the industry for tax incentives to ease the cost of alternative energy solutions. Barbados is, by all means, an energy-scarce place, but what we have plenty of needs alternative solutions to matter. So, on the surface, it makes sense to provide incentives. What always, and I mean always, puzzled me was why these tax cuts never came with legislated accountability. We are literally easing the importation of technology that is worse for our limestone soil than many others that aren’t policed. Mind you, the only policed ones are imported toxic chemicals, which are well regulated. Their disposal is regulated to a point as well. I cannot recall why the same was not publicly required of these importers over the past 20 years or more.
If I am to make a recommendation, this island has produced a world leader in the space of battery technology. As an entrepreneur who has tried to help the island before, I take it that he might have been taken seriously. Based in the UK for well over a decade, he has gone into manufacturing not just batteries, but electric vehicles and other products using his patented battery technology. If the local industry needs that entrepreneur, they had better get on the phone with Carlton Cummins in quick haste.
Sad to say, however, I think the excuse offered by the interviewee reported on this week is a cop-out of sorts. I have been involved in aviation for just under a decade, and that industry has long had healthy fears about the transport of lithium-ion batteries for a number of reasons. So it is remarkable that their disposal and repurposing are only now seen to be of significant concern.
On the other matter, the astronavigators of Barbados should have revealed that global per-capita alcohol consumption has been declining year on year since about 2015. This is pertinent information because, whereas we are net importers of battery technology, the country has long had the capacity to be a net exporter of alcoholic beverages. I chose my words rather carefully here. West Indian millennials bucked this global trend, but the pervasive health concerns associated with the overconsumption of alcoholic beverages have taken root in Gen Z regionally, for sure. And it makes sense: two competing messaging campaigns cannot both win.
The average person here is inundated with more impactful messaging about non-communicable diseases. Those associated with the abuse of alcohol are near the top in both relevance and focus. This is all juxtaposed with advertising by liquor brands that speaks to the “life is a party” rhetoric. Eventually, the benefits of that become both moot and mute. Covid-19 provided further evidence of this. People had to find deeper means of escape during that time, and there is something highly redundant about finding stupor or being blind drunk at home alone. Millennials and Gen Z began to escape into social media, amongst other things. A friend of mine made sure recently that I never lose sight of that fact.
Data from the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) show that global adult per-capita alcohol consumption dropped from a peak of 5.5 litres of pure alcohol in 2019 to 4.9 litres, with worldwide alcohol-attributable mortality dropping by over 20% in recent global evaluations. This is compelling. The local rum and spirits industry may be better served by focusing on two things for its own preservation. Firstly, it must treat social media and other means of technological escapism as a true competitor from now on, while taking the impact of health messaging more seriously. It is no longer enough for its products simply to be labelled in line with regulations.
Secondly, the industry must take seriously the fact that other physical stimulants are being used more boldly than ever before. One quick drive around most Western countries or, better yet, one quick sniff would reveal the new “drug” of choice. Maybe some “infused” selections could help to stem the decline, especially among younger generations.