SHOULD DRINKING BE PROHIBITED?
Except drunkard, no one else supports drinking. It is a great social evil. It is bad for the individual as well as for society. The drunkard becomes addicted to wine in different ways. Mostly, the people acquire this bad habit in undesirable society. Some take to it as a mark of fashion in the beginning. But gradually they become drink addicts. Whatever may be the reasons for drinking, it is indisputable that is a great evil.
Evil effects of drinking are innumerable. Family life of the drunkard becomes miserable. All his money is drained off by this evil habit. He becomes morally degraded. Infact, drinking is the stepping stone to all other vices. It leads to gambling and prostitution. This evil habit degrades the drunkard in the eyes of the people. It is bad not only for the individual but also for society.
Efforts have been made from time to time to drive out the demon of drink from the society. Some religions strictly forbid their followers from drinking. Mahatma Gandhi was deadly against it. It was his influence which made AICC declared prohibition, as its main item of social reform. As a result of this resolution soon after independence congress ministries in many states imposed total prohibition. In others, partial prohibition was introduced.
Some people are against prohibition. According to them, it will never be successful. They point out certain difficulties in the way. Through prohibition the government losses very good source of income. Besides this, prohibition leads to illicit distillation. Thus on the one hand, the government losses its income, and on the other, the evil goes underground and persists. It leads to corruption and bribery. It is said that people cannot be made moral by force. Big officials and influential persons, being themselves addicted to drinking, don’t work seriously for the success of prohibition. Many other difficulties come in its way.
But we cannot agree with those who are against prohibition, agree with those who are against prohibition, whatever may be argument against prohibition. It is a fact that even the drunkards hate themselves. In their heart of hearts, all the addicts curse this habit. If we cannot free those who have become habituated to drinking, it does not matter. But we cannot afford that our younger generation and the non addicts should get entangled in this evil. They must be saved. In their interest, prohibition must be introduced all over India. No doubt the govt, losses some revenue as a result of prohibition. But the gain in human welfare is considerable.
Let the government pass laws making drinking a legal offence. It should also educated public opinion against the evil. We are happy to note that some steps have already been taken in this direction. Drinking is no longer glorified in the pictures. Rather, their evils are being stressed. There is a healthy sign. All our efforts must be made in this interest of the children and the poor drive out the demon of drink from society.