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by E. M. G. Edirisinghe

A survey conducted recently at Gokarella area where the suicide rate is highest in the island, revealed that around a total of 34,700 people living in the area spend about Rs. 3.8 million a month on liquor alone.

Reginald Cooray, the Chief Minister of the Western Province speaking at a ceremony has said that if the Government did not take drastic action, half the population would soon fall sick with the menace of illicit liquor threatening the society. The doctors in Government hospitals find that over 80 per cent of the indoor patients in hospitals are either suffering from illness caused by consumption of liquor or by liquor related violence.

A survey conducted recently at Gokarella area where the suicide rate is highest in the island, revealed that around a total of 34,700 people living in the area spend about Rs. 3.8 million a month on liquor alone. If this amount is diverted to their own food, clothing, housing and education how prosperous and healthy they would be. No doubt they are unable to pay off their debts and hang themselves! Another survey has found that at national level 30% of the population (that means 80% of the male population) are addicted to liquor.

Last month, we read in the newspapers that at Kalutara a 30-year-old man with children has raped his mother under the influence of liquor in the presence of grandchildren. Isn't all this good enough to open the eyes of the authorities both political and official as rightly pointed out by the Chief Minister. The government must awaken itself to the menace of liquor threatening the very fabric of our society, and take effective drastic measures to curb consumption of liquor whether illicit or licensed, existing at every level of the society. Why can't the moralists, law enforcement authorities, fighters for human rights, peace and health workers, religious leaders and the NGOs see the gravity of the problem we are faced with.

The current alarming situation affecting our life, morals and materials is due to the State policy of encouraging consumption of liquor that existed for the last 25 years. The Government wants to drink more so that the treasury would get more, on the blood and tears, mostly of the poor families who are invariably ruined in the process of fattening the rest of the population.

As the Chief Minister suggests a relentless war on illicit liquor alone will not help to overcome the peril and remedy the situation. What is important is a clear cut State policy on the production, sale and consumption of liquor. The people have become so shamelessly and pitifully addicted to drinking, they drink on the highway or in eating houses with bottles opened and dishes of flesh exchanged in the presence of school-going children. One should know that manufacturers and dealers in moonshine have no respect for anyone. Their only respect is for money, and they really enjoy breaking the law. They are sometimes protected by the Police or the politicians, and the women and children are helpless in the scenario.

If one happens to walk on the city roads or in the villages, he would notice that illicit liquor being sold and consumed in public without any fear of the law. There are over 3,000 points selling licensed liquor and there may be over 5,000 joints selling illicit liquor to the poor. When successive governments have liberally given licences to sell liquor, that gives an open licence to everyone to consume liquor. And, it is only strict discipline or self-discipline that could restrain addiction to liquor. Unlike in the practice of virtues, in vices there is no limit as there is no limit to man's greed to make money and satisfy the sensual demands.

All dirty acts and crimes go hand in hand with liquor.

It is time that our politicians and the religious leaders, specially the Buddhist monks, instead of trying to get the youth to fight the terrorists, get them to fight the war against liquor first. And, the war against terrorism would be made easier with much saner sober people. That will not only strengthen the national economy but the moral, spiritual and physical strength of the people, as well.

One should have watched the children's drama and the drama presented for the International Women's Day produced generally with a rural background, to find how the families are ruined because of the drunkenness of the father. The wife and children are in tears unable to find neither food nor peace at home. Why are we blind to this terrible situation? Is it because we are beginning to emulate the norms and morals of the West where liquor is held with respect.

Countries like England, France, Hungary, Australia, Russia are already feeling the pinch of heavy drinking by their people. So liquor becoming a source of irritation even for some rich countries, to think of what would happen to a very poor country like Sri Lanka would be catastrophic. However, it is agreed that total elimination of consumption of liquor just like any other evil is an impossibility. Even in certain countries where liquor is totally banned, if one so desires, he can procure the 'prohibited brew without much difficulty. But there are no brawls, no liquor related crimes and no social or domestic evil. And, that is what we want. Not to make it a miserable menace. The state should take the lead in minimising the consumption of liquor and seen those smelling of liquor in public.

The people specially the women and children should organise themselves to eschew and resist the habit of consuming liquor by their elders. We are a poor nation and cannot afford the luxury of losing working hours and deteriorating health due to consumption of liquor.

Smoking harms only the smoker and those who are constantly in the vicinity of smoking. Most of those who campaign against smoking are those who are agitated over being affected by passive smoking. Why is there no such campaign against drinking when it is much more harmful to the individual, home and the society. In our country liquor and crime are one. There isn't a single criminal who does not consume liquor. So to encourage to take alcohol means to encourage crimes and defend criminals.

In the present social context, most of the increased salaries and the payments for overtime, to male employees goes mostly for drinking, smoking and gambling. Similarly, the unearned income or stolen money and property is spent on maintaining evils in life and protecting themselves in fear of detection and punishment. The more money they make the more vices they practice. Once they are addicted to liquor it is suicide to the family.

Revenue that goes to the treasury through the manufacture and sale of liquor whether licensed or not is soaked in blood and tears, especially of the poor. Remove the free access to liquor and the social recognition given to liquor. Relentlessly fight against the illicit brew. Then the police will have more time to maintain law and order, and protect the innocent people from terrorism. Then the hospital beds will be almost empty, crimes will be almost nil, corruption in society will be much less, election violence will vanish and in consequence, the men will be strong, energetic and very healthy and intelligent with lot of money saved for the family. Moreover, people will be spiritually and morally stronger, and the essence of life could be easily realised by them. If we fail to act fast, soon the lion in us as well as in you will be in ruin.

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