Alcohol awarness starts

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE government is not blind to the destructive effects of alcohol in the country and is serious in addressing it, Law and Justice Sector Secretariat official Arabia Kirio says.
Kirio was speaking at the first of a series of pilot alcohol abuse awareness programmes that started yesterday afternoon at Koki, National Capital District.
He said many state institutions like hospitals, police stations and prisons had reported that a high number of people admitted to their institutions were there because of problems faced from drinking alcohol. 
He said the pilot project awareness programme includes high fines and jail terms for alcohol-related offences, curfews, and increasing the prices of alcoholic beverages were some of the ways the state was using to discourage abuse.
Sgt Peter Tedor of the Badili police station reminded the people at the awareness rally that anyone who was caught drinking in public would be fined K300.
Tedor said when taken moderately, alcohol was fine but drinking excessively could lead to many problems such as poor health, financial constraints, marriage break-ups, unprotected sex, fights, accidents and injuries.
He said police would not allow drunkards to terrorise the Moresby South community.
Tedor appealed to the men there to respect women and girls and not to harass them when under the influence of alcohol.
People who turned out in numbers to hear the message said they were fed up with drunkards causing nuisance and wanted police to take action.