Liquor ban - clear the bottlenecks

Prasad ABU BAKR

A massive haul of sealed bottles of liquor were taken into custody which were in the possession of various outlets that were found selling the stuff and was raided during the period a ban was imposed by the government as a mark of respect to celebrate 2550 years of the birth of the Buddha.

A high official who appeared on television explained that the offenders will be warned but no clear indication was given whether the bottles were going to be released.

The public is of the opinion that these offenders do not need further warning because they have committed the offence knowing that there was a ban in effect country wide.

Illicit liquor is sold all over the country on all Poya days and other religious holidays that a ban comes into operation. It is interesting to know how many of these offenders had been arrested to date?

Most wine stores and bars are said to be selling alcohol on such days through the back door and in some cases customers enjoy a drink within the premises away from the public eye and probably the law.

Public bewildered

But what the public is most bewildered at is that they have rarely heard of any licence being cancelled for the offence of selling liquor on days that a ban is in effect. Does this mean that the rule is adhered to by one and all?

Another point that needs to be verified is that the official who appeared on television said that as for Casinos, since what is served in those premises are imported liquors and a tax had already been levied on such items, there is a legal barrier in raiding such places.

However he said the President is already looking into the matter and the means in which this can be rectified.

There is an overall belief that the rule applies only if liquor is sold at any premises during a period when a ban is in effect. But it is permissable to serve liquor at private functions, in bedrooms of tourist hotels, etc. as long as there is no sales involved.

It is interesting to note that people are making use of these rules and have found enough loopholes for them to carry on their business unhindered on such days when a ban is in effect.

For example many small-time guest houses are believed to be operating from their bedrooms where customers who come in looking for a drink are lead to a bedroom and the liquor is served within.

Sometimes four to five people are packed into a room for the purpose, no bills are issued and the customers pay what is verbally stated by the waiter.

In case of casinos too liquor is not sold but served to guests that patronise the club to gamble. But how can one ignore the fact that all those gamblers have actually paid for their drinks because they have already placed cash bets before they secure a drink.

So the two arguable points are; how come gambling parlours can get away by serving foreign liquor because they pay duty on them and tourist hotels are not entitled to this privilege? Considering that they are in fact earning foreign currency for the country.

Based on principles

The next point is the fact that not consuming of alcohol on Poya and other declared religious holidays are based on principles and not on rules and regulations that have been designed leaving room for offenders to find loopholes to creep through with an excuse in hand to fool dumb or negotiable officials.

This whole business of non-consumption of liquor on selected holidays has been in operation since the early sixties but as of recently and specially under the Mahinda Chintanaya it has gained popular ground owing to the rule being flaunted ever so often in the face of the public.

Officials should realise that rules imposed have to be followed up without fear or favour, which will make the public have no doubt about how the administration works.

But the manner in which the liquor ban is in operation at the moment the rule is stalling at questionable junctures because there are incidents that reveal to them that these kinds of bans are more of a farce than a fact.

It won't be a difficult task for any law abiding officer to walk around in Colombo on a Poya day and find out for himself how many illicit selling points are in operation in the back alleys within this city limits?

It can be said that officers involved in maintaining such law and order are also crippled by the fact that most of those involved in the trade of illicit liquor and wine stores are mostly henchmen of powerful politicians, so when arrests are made the powerful ones are compelled to meddle in the affairs with a view of keeping supporters in their good books.

Back in business

Even if arrests are made for selling liquor during a ban period it is common sight that the premises are back in business right on the next day. It is said that in most cases politicians meddle in the matter and the police is helpless.

Another view is that officials are 'looked after' ahead of such holidays. It is common to see people buying dozens of low priced bottles of alcohol (the famous Gal or known as Athi Vishesha) just a day before an alcohol-free holiday.

Most of them come with boxes and fill them up with bottles making it very obvious that whatever they purchase is due to be sold, and usually it is at double the regular price or more. This occurs largely not only in Colombo and its suburbs but in outstations too.

In some cases it has become a quick way to make money in one day, because it is not merely doubling one's investment; in fact it is more than trebling it.

In the earlier years alcohol consumption and smoking, though stood as evil social habits were never considered a menace to society at large. It was only after the free trade dawned on our shores that both these vices grew in stature, big enough not to go un-noticed.

With the importation of foreign cigarettes and liquor finding its way into the open market local manufacturers' need to advertise their product became a vast necessity and society began to actually be aware of its existence.

The manner in which these products were advertised at the time made both commodities a hit amongst the young.

Large billboards were visible at all sports events. Alcohol too was advertised in a chic sense, suggesting that they boost masculine attributes. So! for women to see a man sitting with a drink in hand and a cigarette hanging from his lips was considered both fashionable and 'Virile'.

WHO concerned

But in the late eighties the World Health Organisation showed concern about health care aid channelled to Third World countries and conducted closer scrutiny of the manner in which such aid is spent.

The alarming number of people suffering from tobacco and alcohol related diseases gave donors second thoughts about funding these nations.

With the beginning of the nineties governments in Asian countries came down heavily upon the use of tobacco and alcohol. Promotion of such products through advertising and other publicity methods were drastically reduced.

In Sri Lanka the process looks more intensified and public awareness stands at a higher level than elsewhere in the region owing to the fact that alcohol becomes an issue during religious events.

Owing to the country's multi ethnic social standing such events are many throughout the year and closing of wine stores and bars on account of such religious events happen more often than in other countries.

However amidst all these complicated patterns that have taken place, Sri Lanka continues to hold steadfast on to the liquor ban on monthly poya holidays and in addition to scattered events that surface through the year representing other religions too.

So under these circumstances it is only wise that authorities take steps to make sure that parties who are supposed to adhere by the rule to do so instead of making it an event for scrupulous elements in society to make it an event of making money hiding behind a veil of religious precepts.

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