has run into opposition -- from Customs officers worried about travellers being sloshed on swizzles when they present themselves for searches.

And they fear passengers could be more worried about booze than baggage as soon as they get off their planes.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley has also blasted the timing of the move.

He said Government should have thought "more responsibly'' during the Christmas party season -- as Bermuda has already recorded 17 road deaths this year.

"Many people get off the plane and get into their cars,'' he said. "This might not be sending the right message, particularly at this time.

"Remember, some people may already have been drinking on the plane.'' Gosling Brothers will run the rum stand, to be set up in the Airport on Sunday morning. It will be placed either in the arrivals walkway, immigration area or baggage hall.

Airport drinks worry Customs And Tourism officials behind the plan hope the initiative will run all through 1999.

Tourism Minister David Allen was off the Island with Tourism Director Gary Phillips last night.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell was also away from Bermuda and unavailable for comment.

But Transport Minister Ewart Brown defended the idea of a rum stand, saying: "We are in the midst of doing this and preparing it and organising it to make sure that it's done in the most tasteful manner possible.

"Until it's had the chance to breathe, I would appreciate it if people wouldn't kill it.'' Customs officers are privately said to be fuming about the plan to serve incoming passengers with rum punches, rum swizzles and dark 'n' stormies.

One officer said: "We'll have to beef up security now.

"It's not appropriate. We don't want people doddering on their feet when they come to fill out their documentation or present themselves to Customs for searches.

"There's always the chance they could become aggressive and that would give us extra headaches.'' Collector of Customs Bill LeDrew added: "If a decision is made to go forward with this, we will do what we can to accommodate it.

"Our objective is to move people through as quickly as possible. The last thing we want to be dealing with is intoxicated passengers.'' Goslings manager Charles Gosling said: "The intention is only to have small measures and just one per person.

"Also, of course, not everybody will want a drink and we will have some young people and under-aged passengers who clearly would not be served.

"We do not anticipate there will be any problems or rowdiness. The exact location has yet to be determined but we do hope this will become a permanent fixture, operating 365 days a year.'' Mr. Gosling said the initiative would be given a trial period over Christmas and New Year but added staff expected passengers to go through an entire case of rum -- or 12 bottles -- every day.

He said the idea was to give visitors an immediate "friendly'' welcome to Bermuda.

Erwin Adderley Graphic file name: ERRWIN CUSTOMS CUS DRUGS DGS