The alcohol doom

Prof Viyatprajna Acharya.
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What I wrote 5 years back, gradually it is taking shape. Unless until we have strict regulations on alcohol sell and time of opening of liquor shops, why do we expect that people will behave sober?

With the expectations of short term gains, sell of liquor was raised in our pious state. Once upon a time drinking was seen as a disease or taboo or an act of lowly people or an attribute of loose character in this state of intellectuals, now seen as ‘okay’ thing. Thankfully, still we are not considering it as ‘cool’. Still we keep a separate drinking corner.

In Odia movies also they have brought drinking scenes, most of the time even unnecessarily which was a strict no, no in earlier day movies.

Even though people will bring lot of arguments in favour of drinking, inwardly everyone knows what is wrong and what is right. How alcoholism is ruining so many families. In 99% cases of rape and murder cases drinking or drug abuse is involved.

Alcohol or the substances of abuse take away the inhibition in our brain, taking away the learning that makes us a social animal and behave well in public.

Act before it is too late. Nowadays the stronger segment of the society, the women, teachers and doctors are also falling prey to it.

Some very welcoming steps have been taken by our new government in the state, taking a lot of risk regarding revenue generation and we must cooperate them.

Few more suggestions:
1. Overt ads on alcohol brands to be prohibited in the name of soda.

2. Liquor shops to be shifted to outskirts of the city.

3. Age limit for drinking to be raised to 25 years. Possibility to addiction decreases, if use of alcohol or substance abuse starts at a later age.

4. No liquor sell after 10pm.

5. If caught for drunken driving, should be heavily punished.

6. Public drinking should be punishable offence like public smoking.

Few people might be bubbling with anger or resentment and some might be eager to add few more suggestions. All are welcome to add their views.

Jay Jagannath…Jay Odisha…Jay Sanatan dharma.
=Shubhamastu=