Joseph Lewis D’Silva
The aim of the liquor outlet BAN along highways is to save innocent lives that die due to accidents on roads caused by drunk drivers. But the moment something is banned the feelings of Indians get hurt; so they often behave like matchsticks bursting into flames; (because they say: “What’s wrong, and what’s right, should be left to an individual’s preference and not to State’s interference.”)
Supporters of the liquor ban say, “The liquor in the stomach of drunk drivers causes accidents on the road because drivers lose their brains when drunk just like the sky when darkened by clouds, the sunlight grows dim because the intervening vapours obscures it; similarly it is with liquor in the stomach of drivers.
Many women say, “Liquor outlets have made their hearts sink. Besides road accidents, it causes brawls and marital discord. Alcohol is increasingly ruining the family life economically and socially. The men-folk get drunk, blow their wages on booze and beat their wives and die with liver cirrhosis. It adversely affects the psyche of the growing children. Therefore, we must close all liquor outlets on National Highways or State Highways and even on village byways. We must close all liquor outlets before liquor that flows from the retailers, closes the eyes of their bread earning husband forever.”
There are two things in life that are certain: one, every person who is born has one day to face death; and the other, everyone who makes a suggestion has to face the opposition. So, commentators say that liquor ban makes owners of far flung liquor den, laugh; and others, on the highway to cry. The ban should either make all to cry or all to laugh. Other disapprovers knit their brow; shake their head; shrug their shoulders and say: “Ban driving; ban riding and start running and start walking to places you want to go like Johnny Walker with or without drinking Johnny Walker whisky.”
Many victim-owners of the liquor outlet say: The liquor ban affects their livelihood– loss of bread and butter of their families. Secondly, it causes a dent to State revenue and gives a negative impact on tourism industry; for without liquor in tourism flourishing Goa, it will be like a body without a soul.
Besides, for many, whose spirit swims in the spirit of ‘feni’, this ban will make them suffer from withdrawal syndrome due to their high level of physiological and psychological dependence on ‘feni’. For all these reasons Goa should be exempted from liquor ban, and liquor establishments should be allowed to continue with their business of selling and serving liquor.
Nothing happens by accident. Everything has a perfect reason. The solution for accidents caused by drunk drivers is found in Prov. 13:24: Spare the rod and spoil the child.
The law enforcement authorities should be more aggressive in controlling drunken driving by imposing heavy fines, cancellation of driving licences for repeated offences. There should be strict control on the sale of liquor especially, its timing. Since keeping the establishment open till the wee hours only encourages criminal and anti-social activities in serious crimes like rapes, murders, dacoities, etc. But there should not be partial or full prohibition as prohibition is a failure to produce any desirable effect. It aggravates the problem all the more wherever it is introduced.
