Battling the Bottle

We will observe the annual dry day on 2^nd October, the Gandhi Jayanti, when all liquor shops and bars in Goa will remain closed. It is a tribute to the father of the nation who espoused non-violence as a means to achieve small and big ends. Gandhiji’s aversion to liquor may be considered as his personal trait, and we don’t have to commemorate or follow personal preferences of any leader, however great. But we can’t overlook the deep connectivity between alcohol and violence. It is an accepted fact that alcohol can trigger violence. It has been said that too much alcohol can bring out “the beast in man”, which to be politically  correct, may be amended to “the worst in a man or a woman”. It is no more appropriate to attribute the worst human behavior to the good animals, not even to the wild ones. The good and the evil are within us.

Alcohol beyond limits is the catalyst of our destruction: at the personal level, the family level, the friendship level, the work environment, the social fabric and the economic progress of the state. Alcohol has led to the degeneration of our physical and mental health. It has been the cause of disease, accidents and untimely death. It has left on its trail orphans, widows and now an increasing number of widowers too. Sad but true.

Alcohol has incapacitated many a promising youth. It has led some from the music and the dancing floor to ugly sounds and to measuring roads. It has broken hearts of parents, siblings, friends and lovers. What more could it do? Loss of production at offices and factories has been attributed to it. Foul language and provocative remarks have caused  breach of peace. Hands and legs have been used to abuse, hit, kick, break; and to destroy peace and happiness. We do not require a debate to firmly state that it isn’t worth it. And yet more and more people get into it just for the kick of it.

“I am now giving you the choice between life and death….Choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

We are worried about peace in the world and in our country. We discuss it; we praise some, despise others; love some, hate others. We can’t do much about it except prayers and good   wishes when it comes to the Bomb. Governments and other organizations have to act, we can only contribute. But when it comes to the Bottle, we can and should do something about it in our own little way, in our own little world. We can diffuse the Bomb in the Bottle, and thus contribute to peace: peace within the individual, peace within families, and peace in the neighborhood.

The dry day should be a day to ponder how we can be proactive in curtailing consumption of liquor. It is within our power to take some initiative along with others of goodwill, and with some of the organizations we belong to. It could be the mahila mandal, a study group, a social service group, a prayer group, a parent-teacher association. It is not going to be easy because those who promote liquor are big barons of the liquor industry. It is the big profits that matter. I wonder what is their agenda on corporate social responsibility. And our politicians have their interests too. Come elections, and the bars run full day and night. Election workers, including youth, are offered free liquor. Many who have become victims of liquor must have been initiated into drinking during election time. The election season is indeed gala time. Can we expect anything from the politicians? With apologies to Karl Marx, may I say that liquor is the opium of the people, some people?

If the election commission enjoins prohibition of sale and distribution of liquor on the days preceding and on the election day, it means that the destructive properties of alcohol have official recognition. I am not building up a case for total prohibition but for laws that restrain the sale of alcohol by further reducing the timings of the liquor shops and bars, demarcating and strictly following No Liquor Zones, introducing a Dry Day every month instead of once a year, inserting statutory warning on all liquor labels, bar entrances and advertisements that consumption of liquor is injurious to physical, mental and social health. My list is not exhaustive and groups willing to engage in the crusade can add their own demands. A letter to the editor in a local daily this week has highlighted that Chief Minister Parrikar should implement strictly his own resolution to ban liquor bars with religious names, moved and passed in the Goa Assembly when he was the opposition leader in 2008 (Herald). Another local daily has reported that Goa government has revoked its May 2013 moratorium imposed on liquor licenses, and has started “clearing all the pending  applications and also accepting new ones” (Gomantak Times). The new notification under which applications will be cleared should be given wide publicity so that the public is aware of those who break the rules. And there should be an upper limit that is strictly followed.

Restrictions imposed by governments can only have limited effects as per the letter of the law. It is for the people and civil organizations to carry on a spirited, positive campaign for life with limited liquor.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 29.09.2013