Drinking of alcohol amongst younger generations

Drinking alcohol is increasing becoming a nuisance in India. With the pub culture flourishing, many youngsters are taken to it in the name of modernization. They binge till late night, rape women and some others indulge in horrifying accidents on the highways.

A recent study by NIPCCD (National Institute for Public Corporation and Child Development) has shown that school children are increasingly getting prone to consuming alcohol and smoking. A survey of 15000 students from the age of 5-18 years of age showed that 30% of boys and 26% of girls regularly consume alcohol.

Is this good for India?

While it is becoming increasingly clear that alcohol is the main cause for accidents, poor academic records, health related issues and deteriorating conditions at home, it still growing at an alarming rate.

Can and should the government take action?

Well, if the government does bars the production of alcohol in the country, there will be many protests across the country. Everybody shall claim that those who do not want to drink need not drink and all the stuff. So this is not a viable option. If the government does not ban alcohol, what is the step it can take to prevent excessive consumption of alcohol amongst students and elders?

There are lessons to be learnt from other countries.

In a town in Brazil, the murder rates caused by people who drink was reduced by nearly half only by putting the closing time of bars at 11 PM. In the US the increase in the minimum drinking age of students was raised that significantly reduced the number of road accidents. In the UK, pubs have been asked to follow a ‘Code of Practice’ (COP) that discourages binge drinking promotions like ‘ Buy one and get one bottle free’, North Carolina’s (US) law makes it illegal for any shop knowingly selling or giving alcoholic beverages to any person who is already intoxicated.

It is very difficult to take an action of extreme step right at the very front. But steps such as these need to be taken for reduction in the alcohol consumption, especially amongst the future generations.