A plea for
prohibition of liquor in our State (Tamil Nadu) has been there for long and one
of the leading political parties has prohibition as their main policy and
demanding for it quite long time. But in last few years other political parties
too took flag against the sales of liquor, which was done through Tamil Nadu
State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) – a company owned by state government.
Very lately
the main opposition party (former) leader promised to bring prohibition in the
state if they are back in power, perhaps if they win the 2016 assembly
election. But it was like a manifesto that supposed to release with the
intention of election, the issue become too serious with the demise of Gandhian
Sasi Perumal, during his protest to shut a TASMAC shop. He has been protesting
in favor of prohibition for long period on the principles of Gandhi – particularly
on the idea of nonviolent resistance.
Now almost political
parties and various institutions in Tamil Nadu has leap into the issue and
urges the state government to implement the prohibition immediately. Some going
to the extreme took the issue in their hands to break through and putting fire
to the TASMAC shops in the suburbs. Its obvious liquor/alcohol is ill to health
and many families suffers because of the head of the family becomes a drunkard
and destroy all the economy and hope, his family got on him towards their
future.
No doubt,
prohibition is must! But implementing immediately is quite impossible I think. I
also wonder how people, even with great wisdom believe that closing the liquor
shops will stop people from drinking. I know if there’s availability people
used to it constantly but what if a road blocked? Isn’t there any other route
to reach the destination and in this case to get the feel of intoxicated? People
don’t think from the mind of drunkards or those addicted to alcohol. It’s not
easy for them to stop consuming alcohol suddenly which is somehow possible only
in the case of occasional/social drinkers.
I know people
who live on the purpose of only drinking and seem to be intoxicated always.
Even a day or two without drinking put them into troublesome and feel anguish
and perhaps there are chances of attempting suicide if they are quite out of
control. But it does not mean that we have to let them drink forever (and die
soon), but it’s a social responsibility to bring them out of the habit and as a
initial step in reducing the number of consumption of liquor, the government
and social organisations should encourage those who want to come out of addiction
and give treatment through rehabilitation centers for free of cost.
On other hand
the government should also take step in reducing the sale of liquor rather targeting
how to increase the marketing. There has been constant growth (of about 20
percent) at the sales of liquor, from the financial year 2002-03, which proves
that those consume liquor has been increased, even though the price could have rose
apparently we could not deny the fact and crowd we see in front of the liquor
stores. The govt. should come up with creative ideas how to prevent people going
blindfold behind liquor bars and also develop an alternate source (parallel) to
balance their fiscal lose if they implement prohibition, in a slow and steady
progress.
Although it’s
good to see people (esp. students) come together with great force and protest against
the liquor sale and urging the government to shutdown the shops. Instead shouting
and taking violence in hand people should think in silence and try to
understand where the problem lies and what the ways to prevent drunkard from
drinking. I personally feel the film industries and films especially are
encouraging indirectly the drinking habit through the scenes of drinking. I
find almost films made in recent years have a scene or two that remind liquor
even those who want to give up.
There’s a
singer come lyricist called gana Bala, who write songs that praise liquor and
habit of drinking. Wish he stops writing such songs that encourage alcoholics
and inspire non-drinkers to the habit. Let whoever comes to the power, promise
whatever they want to but make certain the prohibition has been implemented at
right method and manner that does not let in illegal booze and other drug items
that affect the lives of drinkers to worse.
