(Statutory warning: Consumption of alcohol is injurious to your health. Well OK!!)
To booze, or not to booze: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take a peg against a sea of troubles,
And by drinking end them?
‘Prohibition’, a word that chills us social drinkers (wink,
wink) has been brought around recently by the state of Kerala. If they have
their way, the state may well become another dry state and I can’t imagine what
a state of dryness it would be.
So why the sudden need for such a law? The people must have been craving prohibition like mad; there must have been dharnas and sit-ins or a
state-wide level hartal or even disruption of government functioning if it
wasn’t introduced. Somebody must have threatened them with self-immolation or a
fast unto death. Wait!! What?? None of those happened and still the government
wants to bring prohibition! Awww!! The concern is touching. But you know sir,
when actually the above things happened? It happened during Delhi rape case, it
happened when the entire nation wanted a strong lokpal and lokayukta, it
happened when people wished that criminals not be allowed inside assemblies, it
happened when farmers committed suicide.
So here’s a crazy idea: why don’t you give us what we
actually want (you know: stuff like jobs, better healthcare, cleaner politics)
rather than anticipating what we may or may not need. But hey!! what do I know?
I mean if I don’t drink how would my friends know how much I
love them? Where would our fellow engineers find peace? How would people like
me express their patriotism and undying love for the nation? How would some of
us delve into the depths of our emotions? The sparkling ideas formed over
sparkling drinks would disappear. What would happen to our music industry? ‘Baby
doll main sone di…’ wouldn’t be the same now would it?
A few points:
1)America imposed prohibition in early 20th
century. Read what happened.
2)Deal with the psycho-social problems that lead to alcohol
addiction like unemployment, poor social framework of support etc.
3)Enforce stricter drink and drive rules.
4)Fight domestic violence harder through empowerment of women
(this phrase has lost its meaning, courtesy Rahul baba)
5)Ensure that minors don’t get access to alcohol. Etc.etc.
6)Bhaisaab! nasha sharaab mein hota to naachti botal.
The above problems are very real but alcohol doesn’t cause
them. It does act as a trigger in many such cases but by prohibition would we actually
be solving these problems? The difference is this: doing the things above
requires stronger political will; a long gestation period; a comprehensive
policy dealing with psychological, social and economic aspects at the same time;
a holistic approach towards greater mass awareness. Prohibition on the other
hand is quick-fix, a duct-tape approach to a dangling air-plane wing;
politically motivated in the veil of social good.
There are books which I can’t read because they are banned; scenes
from movies which I can’t see because they are censored; sub-titles on movie
channels translate “go to hell” to “go to Halifax”. The situation is such that
we are mature enough to elect governments, to get married, start industries but
gods forbid we take a drink or two. Enough with the moral policing! There is a
big difference between regulating and prohibiting. Do the former, you won’t
need the latter.
Chaar bottle vodka is a song; it’s not our way of life. If
this much is clear then can I ask the government not
to curtail my freedom to choose?
Ae Ganpat chal daaru la!!!
