Banning alcohol not an option

THE call for a nationwide alcohol ban last year by James Marape, which was strongly supported by other prominent leaders and public, should not be ignored.
Our leaders must consider the destructive effects of alcohol and take preventive measures to control the consumption of alcohol.
Ultimately, there should be an outright ban on alcohol altogether.
For a start, measures must be introduced to control the sale and consumption of alcohol in certain places in Southern Highlands and Enga. 
Recently, there was an escalation in violence in these two provinces which led to tribal fights all because of alcohol.
Many of us are familiar with this saying: “When the benefits are high and risks are low, we go for it; when the risks are high and benefits low, we go against it”.
So what are the plus and minus points of alcohol consumption?
The plus are: 
* The producer of alcohol makes a profit; 
* The retailers and sellers also make a profit;
* Consumer gets a false sense of calm;
* Government earns revenue from tax; and 
* Some employment opportunities are created.
The minus are: 
* The main cause of most family violence in PNG;
* The main cause of most social violence in towns; 
* The main cause of accidents (90%) in the cities;
* The main cause of liver problem (health);
* The main cause of many ethnic clashes; 
* The main contributor to the rise in HIV/AIDS;
* The main cause of unnecessary deaths;
* The main cause of unnecessary pregnancies; 
* Contributes to students’ poor academic results;
* The main cause of criminal activities;
* The leading cause of some mental problems;
* The main cause of borrowing money (dinau); 
*The main cause of rape cases; and
*The long list goes on and on.
The bottom line is the consumption of alcohol only brings destruction and chaos in the end.
Therefore, for the good of our beautiful country, the ban of alcohol should be implemented sooner than later.
Our leaders must support the ban in their various districts and provinces. 

 
Jonah Lupi
Mt Hagen