Cheap liquor products blamed for increased victims of violence

By ZACHERY PER
CHEAP liquor products with high alcohol content has been blamed for the high number of victims of violence ending up at the Sir Joseph Nombri Kundiawa General Hospital over the past three months, according to its emergency unit.
Senior nurse George Mandai said from July to September, 60 admissions resulted from violence due to heavy consumption of cheap liquor products.
“Most of this cheap liquor contains high percentage of alcohol that young men and women are consuming,” he said.
“The high alcohol content causes the consumer to lose consciousness and cause violence in the family and community.”
Mandai said 43 admissions were for knife wounds and 17 for fractures for the three months.
The family sexual violence unit at the Kundiawa Police Station records about 20 incidences of violence every month as a result of cheap liquor consumption.
A police officer who declined to be identified, said cheap alcohol products were destroying families.
“When fathers and their sons, when they are under the influence of these cheap products, they cause family violence,” he said.
The source told The National from Kundiawa yesterday that as a result, family members got injured, family units broke down, children’s education was affected and there was a breakdown of family and community units.
“I call on responsible authorities to stop selling these cheap liquor products as they are causing problems for families, communities, districts and provinces,” the police officer said.