Government needs to curb alcohol abuse

WE have lost another important person who campaigns for peace and order in the society due to mindless drunks.
As reported, the death of the young Wewak police station commander Charles Parinjo was an alcohol-related incident.
What strategies have we to combat alcohol-related problems in our society?
The negligence of the Morobe governor, the MPs and the administration culminated in the crisis in Lae last year, where many lives were lost.
In Southern Highlands, we hear that alcohol is smuggled in from other provinces, where drunks and addicts of other illegal substances rule the streets.
Early last year the then acting prime minister Sam Abal launched a campaign highlighting the possible solutions to curb this problem that has been quietly robbing us of our economy, lowering our productivity as well as leading to loss of property and lives.
It was a case of millions going down the drain and nobody talks about it.
Does the O’Neill-led government have anything in place to combat alcohol-related problems as these issues are vital?
What good is the K100 billion that has been conjured up, only to  have to experience the loss of property, lives and peace in our neighbourhood and society?
As I see it, the government’s strategy must address how we will change the people’s mentality towards such substances such as alcohol, homebrew and illicit drugs.
Failure to do that is failure indeed.
What we need is not more money but more sense and a change of mentality.
Now the challenge is over to you, the government of young vibrant leaders.
Can you give us that assurance?
 
PNG Tauna
Port Moresby