There are many bars and liquor stores operating close to educational institutions in Goa. Surrogate advertisements by alcohol firms, in the form of sponsoring youth events such as sports and music shows, has targeted young college students and widened the companies’ consumer base.
According to the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, there should be no sale of cigarettes or tobacco products within a radius of 100 meters of educational institutions, and the same goes for liquor shops. The sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors is prohibited, and no direct or indirect advertisement of all tobacco and alcohol products is permitted.
Alcohol consumption has adverse effects on people. A person’s social and personal life is threatened with it. It’s a deep web in which when one falls into, it becomes difficult to come out of it.
Drinking may cause increased irritability, poor judgment and reasoning and these are just a couple of ways that alcohol damages the human personality and relationships. One study suggested that abuse of alcohol is behind as much as 40 percent of instances of serious domestic violence.
Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change the mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. It affects the heart and liver too. Many more health issues arise and a visit to GMC will be sufficient to understand them.
Government bodies must act tough on this menace of increasing liquor stores and bars around campuses so that a morally sound society is created. Our youngsters are the future of our nation and we should safeguard them from falling into these traps.
