Bane of society

Our front page story yesterday that excise raids had netted in over Rs.85 million as fines from bootleggers is certainly a matter that should receive the serious attention of the Government which is out to stamp out alcohol abuse through the President's Mathata Thitha programme.

Apart from the loss of revenue to the Government as a result of the massive bootlegging industry the issue also highlight the extent of liquor addiction among the country's populace.

Not long ago Sri Lanka was placed high among the list of countries with the highest number of boozers and there is no reason to suggest that this number has in any way diminished.

Studies have indicated that poverty and socio-economic problems account for the majority cases of alcoholism. Accounts of the increasing number of male spouses of housemaids in the Middle East prostrating before Bacchus is a cause for concern given the effect this will have on their children who may be left to fend for themselves due to a total lack of parental care and a breakdown in the family institution.

It is also revealed that treatment of disease related to liquor addiction was causing a severe dent in the national budget and that alcohol induced crime was rising countrywide.

Some time back it was suggested that the Government reduce the price of soft liquor such as beer so that hard liquor drinkers would take to the beverage reducing damage to their health while there was another school of thought in favour of the overall reduction of liquor prices so that imbibers could afford established brands than ruining their health consuming rot gut.

It was also suggested that this would increase excise revenue due to the sheer numbers taking to the established labels and beer and in fact the prices of beer was reduced by Prof. G.L. Peiris when he was Deputy Finance Minister based on this theory. However as indicated by the staggering fines garnered by the Excise raids there is a thriving blackmarket in operation despite all these measures.

True, the issue is a double edged one given that the Government depends on excise revenue for bridging monetary deficits. However increasing liquor prices at every turn can only drive drinkers further into the arms of moonshine producers thus incurring a loss both in terms of direct revenue and the health bill. Therefore the Government needs to strike the right balance in meeting its objectives.

The burgeoning moonshine industry too should receive the Government's urgent attention. Today this industry is so widespread that it has eaten into the moral fabric of society with even women operating as masterminds. There is evidence to suggest that some law enforcement officers are conniving with the illicit brewers.

With the kind of sophisticated network run by kasippu cartels it will not be an exaggeration to state that the Government will have to wage another war parallel to the one in the North East to eradicate this cancer from society.

It should therefore do everything in its power and implement drastic measures to break the back of the moonshine trade and salvage the younger generation from its evil consequences.

It should also not hesitate to rein in politcos who speak in favour of allowing the trade to continue as a cottage industry in certain pockets in the Western seaboard.

Hardly proving a deterrent this would only provide a carte blanche for the industry to flourish more and exacerbated the problem of alcoholism which the Government is fighting to root out.

The fight against the moonshine industry would be of no avail if the Government fails to sever the nexus between police, politico and moonshine dealer that has provided an unfettered impetus to the trade.

It should cast aside tried and tested methods to arrest this evil and devise fresh and effective initiatives to realise the ideal of the President of establishing an alcohol free society through Mathata Thitha.