The all India fiat of SC to dismantle bars within 500 meters of highways is a cause of heart burns. It is not peculiar to Goa. Goa being a small state with highways criss-crossing everywhere to come within the ambit’s of the law. There may be a small co-relations between accidents and imbibing alcohol per se, it would be interesting to know the exact figures of alcohol related accidents as the main culprits. Tobacco a cancer causing agent merely carries a warning on packs to deter smokers.
There is no doubt that consumption of alcohol affects judgment of the driver and can also cause blurred vision. The degree of level of alcohol consumption is all that matters. How can those drivers carrying alcohol on person be dealt with by law? It certainly can be a danger to other unsuspecting vehicle drivers and passengers. The saying “do not drink and drive” is worthy of serious considerations. Many accidents occur due to various other factors and alcohol cannot be isolated of no consequence.
In Goa, Government by a mere fiat of virtue of convenience, designated major district and State roads as National and State highways. Elsewhere in the world Highways are specially planned and avoid inhabited areas and are on the outskirts bypassing towns and cities and to that extent there is an error in demarcation. In states where there is no prohibition, the bars on roads are a temptation and drivers are known to imbibe alcohol and drive.
The alternative is alcohol tests on a wide scale that would have met the requirement and safety standards. The closing of bars within certain time frame. Another alternative is to reduce the effective distance by appealing to the SC especially in small States like Goa. In Goa many proprietors stand to lose their livelihood without any thought of the impact of this legislation. Besides alcohol sales are a huge revenue generation scheme and can badly reduce much needed income for the Government. Besides the free availability of alcohol is an added attraction to visiting tourists, seen flaunting alcohol bottles everywhere, in spite non enforced public drinking. The legislation’s must also provide alternatives and cannot be blind to those totally displaced by sudden and drastic measures. The remedy cannot be worse than disease.
