Team Herald
PANJIM: Alcoholism is a major contributing factor to one-third of suicides, two-thirds of domestic violence cases, 40% of job absenteeism, and over 200 medical conditions, according to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Speaking at the Global Convention in Goa, the organisation emphasised the need to challenge the false narrative of modernity associated with alcohol consumption.
Dr Ashish Deshpande, Trustee at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), highlighted a growing trend of alcohol consumption among women in corporate settings. “As the age of first exposure decreases, the likelihood of social damage due to addictive substances increases by up to five times, especially if consumption begins before the age of 15,” he stated.
Dr Deshpande warned that unawareness of alcohol’s dangers is allowing modern lifestyle influences—films, advertisements, and social trends—to normalise drinking. “Young minds receive the message that alcohol is harmless, making them more curious and open to experimenting with it,” he said.
To counteract this, he stressed the urgent need for awareness campaigns. “Real-world information about alcohol-related diseases must be published and broadcast in the media to provide a counter-narrative,” he urged. “If no alternative viewpoint exists, society becomes increasingly permissive, and as alcohol consumption rises, 3% to 8% of individuals will face social consequences linked to drinking.”
“We must unite our voices and actively challenge this so-called ‘modernity’ associated with alcohol,” he concluded.