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by Manjari Peiris

Based on an interview the writer had with Pubudu Sumanasekera, Director, Programmes of the Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC) Sri Lanka.

Most women have been excusing or encouraging the use of alcohol by men by making remarks such as these:

1) "Most men are naturally inclined to drinking alcohol",

2) "Moderate drinking is OK; only dependence on alcohol is bad";

3) "Even though we do not take alcohol, at a party or at a wedding, we should serve alcohol to those who use it",

4) "We should know as to how to live or adapt to such an atmosphere",

5) "This is our fate or destiny",

The aforesaid examples weaken the strengths and efforts of women reacting against alcohol use. These false statements pertaining to alcohol use have been taught to women by the forces which promote the product.

The real truth pertaining to the above-mentioned fabricated concepts is;

1) There are ample men who have not got lured by alcohol.

2) Most of the problems associated with alcohol use are with the Social Drinkers, and not with those who have got addicted to it.

3) Those who say that alcohol use is a must for a party are the ones who have got trapped in the myth that "alcohol is pleasurable".

4) Those who say that we should be able to endure such unpleasant experiences or an environment must learn to overcome such situations by taking action, instead of enduring the pain.

5) If we endure the unpleasantness relating to alcohol use saying "it is our fate", such feeling alone is our fate.

As women we should contemplate ways of overcoming this situation. The first major step in this regard will be to identify the forces that would not allow us to overcome the situation. We should understand who conditions our minds with these fabricated concepts.

Films or teledramas through alcohol promotions may do that. Or else the existing users through false excuses, which they have established in society to gain sympathy from their family members, relations, friends and others, could do it.

Such concepts established in society as reasons for alcohol use will always minimize the steps that women might take against alcohol use.

Another major reason, which hinders action in preventing problems associated with alcohol use, is the ignorance among women of chemical effects of alcohol use. Really the feeling that one experiences in alcohol use is a very unpleasant one. It is a very depressive feeling. One cannot gain happiness through it.

The concepts built relating to alcohol use are all fabricated stories. The majority of alcohol users get linked to it not because of the chemical effect, but due to other reasons such as to get recognized within the alcohol users group which he belongs to, the venue, the time and the alcohol culture. But the users are misled that they are linked to it due to chemical factors alone.

Scientists through research have revealed that it is more difficult to get rid of the rest of the factors that grip a person to alcohol other than the chemical reasons. Even an alcohol user with intelligence to a certain extent may be able to understand the logic of this. If women observe these reasons carefully they should be able to understand it.

Although some people are of the view that people get addicted to alcohol really it is the alcohol users who have grasped the product. That is why everybody does not use alcohol. It is the users who have been grasping the chemical and thereby gaining false sympathy.

Then such people say, "I cannot be free from it, as I am addicted to it," etc. The women believe such stories, as they have not perceived the real truth associated with the chemical effect.

There are many false concepts in the environment. Women believe these concepts, but unfortunately it is not the truth.

From today the women should put in an effort to observe the above-mentioned facts. They should observe how the behaviour of alcohol users is not the same in front of everyone. Why do the majority of alcohol users behave meekly in front of their superiors and boisterously in front of women or innocent people? Have not women contributed to promoting these concepts knowingly or unknowingly?

One of the chief reasons is the manner in which the women crack jokes or laugh at the way those men behave after alcohol use which ultimately encourages their behaviour. Recollect the way you supported the men's behaviour after alcohol use at the recent party or function by laughing at them.

There are many women who suffer due to the use of alcohol by their men in villages and towns. The ones who use and those who are around the users think it is due to a problem with the chemical effect of alcohol that they behave abnormally. They cannot understand that it is due to the weakness of the user himself to a great extent. People try to put the blame on the chemical effect of alcohol alone and prevent men of their chances of escaping the habit.

As women, from today we should try to create a dialogue with the rest of women, both urban and rural that use of these products are being promoted by the unnecessary excuses established in favour of use.

Most people continue using alcohol not for the mere reason that they cannot stop it, but because they have no intention to quit. But they always say that they cannot stop the habit, wanting others' sympathy. One of the major steps that women may take to prevent use of alcohol is to start talking on the realities pertaining to use. This will be a vital role that they initiate in making a positive change in the present situation.

Next we should observe how many women would object to our initiative on stopping use of alcohol. Observe how many women will be interested in that task.

Discuss with some wise women how many men have been influenced to alcohol use. There are ample people who had observed and perceived the overall situation. The problem itself is that they keep quiet, in spite of the understanding that they have got. If they start talking the truth, they may make a big difference in the attitudes of people.

Try to understand that men use alcohol to make excuses for their own advantage and to beat the women, but not that men beat women due to alcohol use.

It is not due to alcohol use that men disregard their responsibilities. Men use alcohol to get excused for their negligence on responsibilities.

Men do not use alcohol because it is a pleasant drink, but they just follow others for many reasons. But none of them are pleasurable ones. Some of the reasons could be attributed to the environment, the fear for users or organizations to talk of the real feeling, having been conditioned to the product, that they do not know what to do for pleasure gaining...

There is no happiness where beer is; beer is brought into the places where happiness is already there. As you analyze the situation where alcohol is being taken, you may understand that most of those who drink beer, form groups, go to a striking place, choose the best time of day, and so on. What they do is take beer to such places and say "Beer is ideal". This is the point where ignorance on beer has been built up.

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