Impose total prohibition on illegal liquor consumption

Hyderabad: The recent compensation awarded by the court is a warning to the government for not implementing the liquor policy effectively. However, it does not mean that whoever is affected by a family member falling prey to liquor addiction should approach the courts and ask for compensation.

In fact, in 90 per cent of the crimes, people have consciously consumed liquor and committed the crime. Liquor is like a weapon to commit these kind of offences and it definitely should not be made available to people. But at the same time, people should be responsible and accountable to their families.
Taking a hint from the recent High Court judgement, the government should impose total prohibition and not give compensations.

More than just fines, the laws must be made stricter and more than compensation, the total prohibition of liquor is advised. There is a need for creating awareness as well. The government has a policy and a department with a lot of funds to make the public aware about the ill effects of liquor consumption. If liquor is available 24x7 at every street corner at wine shops, then the government is exploiting this weakness in human beings.

If the liquor policy is strictly implemented by all wings of the government, there will be less chances of a liquor menace in the state. Compensation will only encourage this further.It is unfortunate that for the social behaviour of the people, the court has to intervene and warn the government, because the concerned authorities and the government are not enacting the laws.

In fact, the High Court had probably taken into consideration the incidents that took place at Tenali where a mother, who objected to her daughter being teased, was killed, and also the incident at Vijayawada, where the brother of a girl was killed in a similar incident.

The court also stated that it was high time the government and its concerned authorities restricted the free sale and consumption of liquor. In the name of controlling drinking on the roads, the government is opposing the wine shop owners putting up the so-called permit rooms or sitting rooms.

The department of excise, the traffic police and the law and order police are perfectly equipped with several laws to prevent public nuisance caused by drunkards at wine shops. But they are failing to execute them leading to regular consumption of liquor and offences against women and children.

During NTR’s regime, when total prohibition had been imposed, women and children were happy. Women were purchasing household articles and saving some money and children were going to schools and pursuing their studies. These laws are enacted to curb social evils.

People who are aware and well educated drink, but in limitation. At most parties, business deals and other social gatherings, the availability of liquor has become common, but we hardly see any offences.Finally, liquor brings out the animal instinct in humans. At least now, people and NGOs should ask the political parties to include total prohibition in their election manifestos.