Marking World Temperance Day 2021 yesterday (3), the authorities had decided to close down liquor stores islandwide. However, if we look closely, we can see that Sri Lanka’s approach for managing consumption of alcohol among its citizens is largely limited to laws and policies, and very little in the form of discourse. Even the handful of discussions we see in the country are pushing for either a complete relaxation of laws, or for the introduction of extremely strict ones.
The truth is, there is no clear-cut answer to the question of whether people should drink or not, and it is each person’s personal choice. If we recognise a person’s right to refuse to consume alcohol, it is also reasonable for a person to demand that their right to consume alcohol, within legal parameters, be respected.
Perhaps it is time for us to recognise that the question is not really about whether to consume alcohol or not; it is about the responsible consumption of alcohol, and we all have a right and a responsibility to promote and demand that responsibility.
Firstly, those who consume alcohol have a responsibility to ensure their own safety and wellbeing, and secondly, they have to see to it that their decision to consume alcohol has minimum adverse effects on those they associate with. In fact, being responsible for one’s actions should be one of the first and most important rules about alcohol consumption. However, depending on various factors, including education level, nature of profession, and social class, the value assigned to those rules vary. While some consider responsible consumption of alcohol as a cardinal rule, some seem to be not concerned about it at all, and the outcome of their decision to consume alcohol is dependent on their attitude.
Irresponsible consumption of alcohol can be seen in almost all social strata; however, when it comes to lower socio-economic classes, it seems to be more prevalent. Even though there is a lack of data in this connection in a Sri Lankan context, findings of studies conducted at an international level support this hypothesis.
Irresponsible consumption of alcohol is not merely a moral issue; it is an issue that has a number of effects on a person’s family, and then, on society. A large number of studies link irresponsible drinking habits to a number of harmful behaviours, such as violence and neglect. This is one of the reasons many Sri Lankans advocate against the consumption of alcohol, and given some people’s behaviour, their concerns are actually valid.
However, the issues caused by irresponsible alcohol consumption go beyond that. As we see quite often in Sri Lanka, those who neglect the needs of the family and of themselves, especially financially and emotionally, by making the consumption of alcohol a priority, are a pressing issue. This was also cited as a reason by some who opposed reopening liquor stores after the quarantine curfew, and this view has a grain of truth to it.
The issue of people prioritising alcohol consumption over the most essential needs of their families and of themselves, is something that can be effectively addressed via raising awareness about the responsible consumption of alcohol. However, that alone cannot change the status quo, and other aspects of this issue, such as being addicted to alcohol or using alcohol as a means to forget about the harshness of their day-to-day existence, also play a major role in this process.
Responsible consumption of alcohol depends predominantly on the consumer’s ability to manage their behaviour after consuming alcohol, and also their financial and mental capacity, and there are many who live successful lives by managing these aspects and sticking to social/casual consumption of alcohol.
As a country that allows the sale and consumption of alcohol, and earns a massive tax income through it, Sri Lanka needs to go beyond merely closing liquor stores on special days such as Poya days or days such as World Temperance Day. As various countries have done, the authorities should understand that building a constructive discourse surrounding the issue could, in turn, promote responsible consumption of alcohol, and create a change in laws and behaviours that mere restrictions cannot hold up.The alcohol responsibility
03 Oct 2021
The alcohol responsibility
03 Oct 2021
Marking World Temperance Day 2021 yesterday (3), the authorities had decided to close down liquor stores islandwide. However, if we look closely, we can see that Sri Lanka’s approach for managing consumption of alcohol among its citizens is largely limited to laws and policies, and very little in the form of discourse. Even the handful of discussions we see in the country are pushing for either a complete relaxation of laws, or for the introduction of extremely strict ones.
The truth is, there is no clear-cut answer to the question of whether people should drink or not, and it is each person’s personal choice. If we recognise a person’s right to refuse to consume alcohol, it is also reasonable for a person to demand that their right to consume alcohol, within legal parameters, be respected.
Perhaps it is time for us to recognise that the question is not really about whether to consume alcohol or not; it is about the responsible consumption of alcohol, and we all have a right and a responsibility to promote and demand that responsibility.
Firstly, those who consume alcohol have a responsibility to ensure their own safety and wellbeing, and secondly, they have to see to it that their decision to consume alcohol has minimum adverse effects on those they associate with. In fact, being responsible for one’s actions should be one of the first and most important rules about alcohol consumption. However, depending on various factors, including education level, nature of profession, and social class, the value assigned to those rules vary. While some consider responsible consumption of alcohol as a cardinal rule, some seem to be not concerned about it at all, and the outcome of their decision to consume alcohol is dependent on their attitude.
Irresponsible consumption of alcohol can be seen in almost all social strata; however, when it comes to lower socio-economic classes, it seems to be more prevalent. Even though there is a lack of data in this connection in a Sri Lankan context, findings of studies conducted at an international level support this hypothesis.
Irresponsible consumption of alcohol is not merely a moral issue; it is an issue that has a number of effects on a person’s family, and then, on society. A large number of studies link irresponsible drinking habits to a number of harmful behaviours, such as violence and neglect. This is one of the reasons many Sri Lankans advocate against the consumption of alcohol, and given some people’s behaviour, their concerns are actually valid.
However, the issues caused by irresponsible alcohol consumption go beyond that. As we see quite often in Sri Lanka, those who neglect the needs of the family and of themselves, especially financially and emotionally, by making the consumption of alcohol a priority, are a pressing issue. This was also cited as a reason by some who opposed reopening liquor stores after the quarantine curfew, and this view has a grain of truth to it.
The issue of people prioritising alcohol consumption over the most essential needs of their families and of themselves, is something that can be effectively addressed via raising awareness about the responsible consumption of alcohol. However, that alone cannot change the status quo, and other aspects of this issue, such as being addicted to alcohol or using alcohol as a means to forget about the harshness of their day-to-day existence, also play a major role in this process.
Responsible consumption of alcohol depends predominantly on the consumer’s ability to manage their behaviour after consuming alcohol, and also their financial and mental capacity, and there are many who live successful lives by managing these aspects and sticking to social/casual consumption of alcohol.
As a country that allows the sale and consumption of alcohol, and earns a massive tax income through it, Sri Lanka needs to go beyond merely closing liquor stores on special days such as Poya days or days such as World Temperance Day. As various countries have done, the authorities should understand that building a constructive discourse surrounding the issue could, in turn, promote responsible consumption of alcohol, and create a change in laws and behaviours that mere restrictions cannot hold up.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!