Jyoti:
Drinking is a necessary evil like tobacco or nuclear bomb.
Liquor consumption is harmful to health, says the label below the liquor bottle. Thus it is a dilemma for the govt is not able to totally ban a thing which is harmful for its citizens. On the contrary it gets huge income from allotting shops for its sale.
It also exposes that man's mind is incomplete as we know that certain things are harmful to us, yet we fall in their traps.
So the best option is to dissuade people from consuming liquor by good education at home, in schools, in temples and in offices. Parents should serve as examples by not bringing and consuming liquor at home. It should be avoided in marriage parties and other functions at home.
RJ
Khurana: Yes, a big yes! Liquor has destroyed millions
of families. Once a person has consumed liquor, he loses
control over himself and is capable of committing crimes
that he will never do if he is not under the influence of
liquor. Then, it is a waste of hard earned money especially
for poor people who even otherwise have little to make both
ends meet. Drivers are ten times more prone to accidents
while under the influence of liquor than without it. An
excuse often given is that liquor helps relax tension. Another
excuse is that it helps socialization. These notions are
based on false premises. It might give a sense of well being
for a short while but the after effects of liquor consumption
are hang-over, lethargy, depression and finally addiction
and addiction-induced diseases. No wonder, Gandhiji made
prohibition as one of his weapons for gaining independence.
Syed Zia Ul Hasan
Naqvi: Liquor consumption in India has gone up manifold
in recent years and it is continuously increasing by leaps
and bounds in every strata of Indian society. On account
of its devastating effects on our social, economic and cultural
fibre it is very alarming for us and people should be weaned
away at any cost from consuming liquor. Nowadays liquor
consumption has become a status symbol and a fashion.
In the parties of upper class people wine has become an integral part of the celebrations. Apart from this, people consume liquor on different pretexts- some say it is a means of relieving them from fatigue and tension and its use is pleasurable and relaxing. Some people consume liquor on different occasions like marriages, festivals and functions. People also consume liquor for relief from painful illness, frustration, emotional stress, on failures and sorrows in life. In hippie culture also wine is prevalent. There is close relationship between alcoholism and crime, it is proved by the police records and it is also confirmed by the criminologists that most of the criminals commit heinous crimes after consuming liquor.
Aggressive behaviour is often due to liquor consumption so people should be weaned away at any cost from consuming liquor.
Sharjeel
Khan: Today serving liquor has become a status symbol
and is integral to social gatherings and functions. Going
on a binge is a modern fashion and it cannot be checked
until the fashion changes. Many posh clubs, social clubs
have their licenced bar, Bar hotels too are mushrooming
in the country. Unfortunately, these days some festivals
are also celebrated by consuming liquor. Even educated people
like making their own exhibitions, because they take it
as a personal matter. Addiction of liquor is a common problem
of society; we can easily find large numbers of people suffering
from this around the world. Many youngsters are consuming
liquor as a sign of maturity, they start it occasionally
but it converts into a regular habit.
Smoking and alcohol consumption is the first step towards drugs and other substance, so it is important to pay attention to the basic prevention. Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, a constant use of alcohol results in many adverse consequences. It increases the rate of crimes, accidents, and domestic violence. Government, which appears to be very concerned about the health and well- being of the people, has failed to take proper measures for curbing liquor consumption.
They just want to generate income from liquor sales. Government should review the situation seriously and initiate measures to control the liquor menace. Prohibition on the sale of liquor is not a feasible solution because if government restricts the sale of liquor, then some illegal agencies and smugglers will make money by engaging in this trade like we have example of Gujarat and Haryana states. Under such circumstances the only and effective solution is to create awareness and encourage people to kick the habit, educating them about the pros and cons of liquor consumption, strict rules should be enforced like severe punishment for drunken driving, employees who consume alcohol during office hours should be punished. We all know about this problem and its wrong implications but still very few of us are able to do anything effective to stop it.
Rini
Ponnachen: Liquor drinking is a social evil. Specially
in a developing country like India, this habit and consuming
liquor is ruining many families. The addictors torture children
and women at home and this spoils the peace of the family
life and economic problems increase. Such families do not
get social respect. It is ruining health. At present laws
have been enacted not to drink but the sellers are selling
and consumers consuming liquor and this addiction is increasing
crimes, and moral values are on the wane. Gandhiji's efforts
to eradicate this evil is worth mentioning. So, therefore,
people should be weaned away from consuming liquor.
Sivda: Alcohol
acts as tension reliever when people find themselves in
helpless situations. Whether it be extreme grief like deaths
of near and dear ones due to accidents or it be occasion
for celebration, alcohol forms a part. Once a person is
hooked to alcohol it becomes his regular habit. Alcohol
consumption affects physical and mental part of the body.
Boozers deviate from their normal behaviour and create problems for the whole family. Liver is worst hit. These days even youngsters are taking to liquor consumption. Women are also not behind. After consuming liquor people become half-minded which may lead to road accidents. Suffering from mental tension people take to alcohol which only adds to financial burden leading to murders, suicides and a negative way of life. In some colleges, during ragging, the seniors are learnt to have encouraged juniors to consume liquor.
Daily wagers, even though lack money even to buy food, somehow procure liquor and worsen their condition. Elder members in family should act and save their kin from consuming alcohol.
Sushmita
Shrivastava: Yes, people should be weaned from consuming
liquor. Liquor is the root of all evils, especially in India
and developing world.
Liquor consumption is behind family feuds and crimes. The government must develop strategies to reduce harm resulting from alcohol consumption. People generally are quite well acquainted with what benefits are attributed to alcohol, for instance enjoyment of temporary happiness, increase in physical strength for a short time etc. Compared to the few limited benefits of alcohol, its risks and harms are so varied that, perhaps so many disadvantages may not be present in any other thing.
Through alcohol, the stomach gradually loses its ability to function properly. It causes loss of appetite. It spoils one's facial features or appearance. Liquor consumption makes one age quicker. It weakens and reduces the ability to think and speak properly. It can also cause heart failure. Liquor creates fights and enmity between people and leads towards grave sins. Often adultery and murder are the direct results of drinking. People waste their hard-earned money on this vice. In a welfare state the manufacture and consumption of liquor must be totally banned.
Dr
Suram Singh Verma: Liquor consumption can be easily
assigned as a sole cause of many social ills like traffic
accidents, crimes and family fights etc. Therefore, yes,
there is a need to wean people from consuming liquor. Consumption
of liquor in the society is categorized as i) for people
who can afford it monetarily, take it as a status symbol
and are well aware of its side effects and ii) people those
who cannot afford it and they suffer both health wise and
monetarily. Many reasons and frustrations are assigned to
second category people for taking to liquor consumption.
Lots of pomp and show government programmes directed to distract this class of people in the society from liquor consumption have already proved futile and liquor consumption is increasing day by day in the society and with time it is spreading its disastrous wings in young generation. When policies like making dry states (no selling of liquor) and restricted sales always give room to black mailing of liquor, its easy and cheap availability also attract common consumers. Need is to not to make it costly or un-available but to make people in general and youth and children in particular aware of its (liquor's) side effects. To do that people have to be educated for their well being with respect to physically, spiritually and mentally.
Subhash
C Agrawal: Ideally yes. But practically liquor is impossible
to be banned because any such ban will result in consumption
of spurious liquor, drugs or unwanted medicines which can
even be poisonous. Even though Gujarat is a dry state, yet
consumption of liquor there is no less by virtue of smuggling.
Haryana once imposed ban on liquor making. Innocent Haryana youngsters have adopted easy money-earning profession of smuggling liquor from neighbouring states. Rather the step became more hazardous when the ban was lifted and these sudden rich boys resorted to other crimes to maintain their rich incomes thereby turning Haryana to be a crime-state from earlier crime-free state.
Even in Pakistan where liquor is open for sale only for minority communities, majority Muslim community manages liquor for parties in name of their friends in minority communities.
Youngsters start consuming liquor only as status-symbol and fashion. It will be better if less harmful beer may be allowed to be marketed like soft drinks to fulfil requirement of fashion of modern times, thereby practically checking consumption of harmful whisky and other forms of liquor.
It is really disgusting that even though our politicians worship Mahatma Gandhi as their modern God, yet they in general disobey his ideals for keeping away from liquor. Things can definitely be changed for idealistic betterment if a ban may be imposed to consume liquor for those having posts in legislature as per great ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
Then only political rulers will be serious to implement practical ways for checking consumption of liquor.
Manish
John Mathew: Liquor is a substance which on drinking
makes a person semi-conscious. People generally drink liquor
on two occasions first to celebrate or share happiness and
second to forget sorrows. Liquor causes basically three
damages: First is financial damage. People spend lot of
money on liquor. Many families have become poor by expenses
on liquor.
Second damage is physical damage. Liquor consumption affects health very much. Many diseases are caused by liquor consumption. Third damage is spiritual damage which is greatest of all. After consuming liquor to celebrate and share happiness or to forget sorrows a person is not able to understand the real message or lesson by the Almighty which is hidden in happiness or sorrow.
Thus it takes us away from God and causes spiritual damage. As liquor consumption causes financial, physical and spiritual damage, thus government and public should take important steps to wean away people from consuming liquor and to make them responsible citizens.
Sarad
Damodaran: Some people consume alcohol because they
have no goals in life and find life meaningless. When brought
up in a negative environment and not receiving the knowledge
of right and wrong, people may switch to weird ways of living.
Alcohol habit is also thus acquired.
In a world which lacks love, people seek solace by taking drinks. Drinks are all right when consumed within the four walls of one's house and in moderation.
Some people are learnt to have ruined themselves and their families by resorting to daily drinking. They become bankrupt, abuse their kin at home. This results in divorce. Daily wagers and those living in juggis are worst hit.
Once over drunk, people shout and speak all dirt. Those who hear feel disturbed. We should all take pledge never to consume liquor.
Krishna
Chander Mouli: Habits die hard, so are the vices. Consuming
liquor is definitely a vice. At least in India and largely
in Asian conditions it is so. Liquor in the present-day
form is an imported vice from West.
Though so many references are quoted to prove that even Hindu India was no exception to liquor and intoxicants were in vogue in the mythological, epical and other religious texts and it was very common with royal and aristocratic families. So two points have always been in dispute.
Firstly that liquor is an imported vice. Secondly that liquor consumption is at all a vice? Be that as it may, in the opinion of the eminent writer and intellectual Khushwant Singh consumption of liquor is a personal choice just as one prefers to consume coffee or tea.
He observes that by consuming liquor as a gentleman in tolerable quantities one gets the desired kick in his pursuit and he/she may even sometimes excel. Khushwant Singh does not believe in any morality tags to liquor consumption and thus there is no ground for calling it a vice. What is abhorrent about liquor is that the consumer should not be a drunkard nor should he always create a scene or found unconscious lying in a gutter.
The various governments are also of the view that the more the consumption of liquor, the higher is the excise revenue. In this backdrop suggesting people weaning away from consuming liquor is neither logically nor convincingly possible.
Yet if one goes by what Baba Ramdev preaches people should not only be weaned away from consuming liquor but all types of intoxicants. Just as others quote references from religious texts, so do Ramdev too from Atharva Veda, Patanjali's Yog and Pranayam Vigyan and even Ayurved that in a number of medicines alcoholic elements and intoxicants are used as medicine but in no case intoxicants in their raw form should ever be used.
Ramdev advocates weaning of people from liquor. The only acceptable best argument in favour of people weaning away from consuming liquor could thus be their propensity to get drunk, their indecent postures, filthy utterances and lever and kidney damage if consumed in larger quantities and for longer periods.
No matter how self-restrained one may be, by and large consumers of liquor are bound to get drunk and become a mockery of themselves and nuisance for the society. A sincere effort by the State or by the civil society should therefore be made in the best interests of the person, his family, his future and the nation to ensure people wean away from consuming liquor.
RK
Kutty: But, the larger question arises then would be
in classifying people. In the context of the question under
debate, people means, as in the political parlance the `aam
admi'. Then, the upper echelons are an exemption. Now, the
question is about the very definition of liquor. There is
wine and fermented wine.
Wine is permitted, as it is the pure form or extract of grapes or any other consumable fruits. In that way, all people use wine. If anyone eats a quarter Kg of grapes, after a while, he feels a sort of intoxication.
Even in the scriptures, use of wine is recommended. In the Indian Vedic concept, it is generally described as `Somras' which the Devas, Rishis, Kings and the Rulers all are addicted to it. Coming back to liquor in general terminology, there too are two varieties `modest', branded liquor and the general, spurious brand of liquor.
While the modest branded liquor are produced by licenced beverage factories, there is hardly any regulation for producing general, spurious brands which the men at the lower strata in the society consume. Liquor tragedies often occur only in these particular areas.
No other State in India can be a better example in analyzing the various facets of liquor sale and its regulatory policies than the State of Kerala. Many a time in the past, various governments that ruled the State fiddled with the idea of bringing in a total ban in liquor sale in the State, particularly with a view to give a great deal of relief to poor women folks who are at the receiving end of all the after-effects in handling a boozer husband.
The women get all the abuses from their husbands while the little kids too face the fury. To reduce this evil, the UDF govt headed by AK Antony came up with the idea of IMFL and it was widely acclaimed that at least the tragedy and trauma of boozers of ordinary, spurious liquor could be averted.
But, that too later failed, as majority of people are lovers of hard, spurious ones, as they don't feel as having the real effect when the IMFL is consumed.
Numerous Counseling Centres came up in the State to educate and motivate the people about the ill-effects of hard, home-made spurious liquor. Still, when the State Excise department became rigid and started raiding such liquor producers, they had selected deep jungles where such liquors are produced and kept in jungle hide-outs.
Now, not only governments but also NGOs, Voluntary Organizations and Intellectual class must jointly endeavour to totally ban manufacture and sale of all fermented wine.
Dr
Visal A Khan: Depressants like beer, wine, liquor, when
consumed, are primarily absorbed through the stomach and
the small intestines. It is considered a food because it
has caloric value, but does not need to be digested & proceeds
directly into the body through the digestive system.
After ingestion it is carried through the blood stream and crosses the blood-brain barrier, at which time impairment begins. A greater amount of ingestion causes greater impairment to the brain, which, in turn, causes a person to have a greater degree of difficulty in functioning. 90% of it is eliminated through the body, while 10% is eliminated (unchanged) through sweat and urine, it is a central nervous system depressant.
It is among the most abused drugs in our society, can cause severe damage to a developing fetus. People often do not realize that they are becoming dependent on alcohol. It can be as potent as many other illegal drugs. Liquor users fall under addiction (alcoholism) and the long term miserable effects are dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hangovers, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, impaired motor skills, violent behaviour, alcohol syndrome, respiratory, depression and death.
Instant respiratory paralysis, creates strong possibility for overdose, many of the same effects as heroin.. 25% of 8th graders have admitted to being intoxicated at least once.
It is likely that some drug-exposed children will need educational support in the classroom to help them overcome what may be subtle deficits in developmental areas such as behaviour, attention, and cognition. It is linked to several types of cancer. However, alcohol impairs one's ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Affects vision in the following ways: 1) It narrows the visual field. 2) It reduces resistance to glare, interferes with the ability to differentiate intensities of light, 3) lessens sensitivity to colours, damage to vital organs including liver, heart and pancreas.
Most of accidents of country are observed due to haste driving of liquor addicted drivers. Indians consume 7 million litres of wine including 1.5 milllitres of foreign wines every year. About 10 million people drink wine and this is Indian Paradox. Due to the religious reasons or social customs, drinking alcohol can be considered a taboo and a majority do not imbibe alcohol.
200 million cases of country liquor and million families of villages of India are ruined due to liquor, the cost estimate of such may be few billions. Indian Govt earns sales tax of liquor at the cost of people. I look forward for some of suitable laws to ban liquor, limiting to licencees only like Gujarat, which is most essential for the development of the country.
This will save not only wealth of country but health of most people too.
Omprakash
Sharma: People must be weaned away from consuming liquor.
It is not only harmful for our body but for mind and soul
also. First of all it adversely affects the internal parts
of the body like liver and kidney. It increases blood pressure
of the drinker which often leads to heart attack. A liquor
habituated person cannot obtain energy for hard works without
liquor and it leads a person near to death gradually.
The second harmful effect of liquor is on the drinker's mind. The person after consuming liquor cannot control his emotions. We can see several incidents daily in our society that 90% of crimes are being committed by persons in an unstable condition of mind which is either caused by drugs, liquor or any other intoxicating substance. A person commits crime in intoxicant status but just after being normal, he repents but there is no way for escaping from its consequences.
The third adverse effect of liquor is on our soul which is the eternal and the cause of existence of any human being. Body is just like a temple in which our soul lives like The God. Nobody can achieve peace of mind in praying a dirty temple then how can men be happy and peaceful after consuming liquor, drugs and smoke. It is a fact that man is not consuming liquor but liquor is consuming a man's body, mind and soul. So people must be weaned away from consuming liquor.
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