Three pronged attack needed to win this battle

A careful study of the Government's on-going war against liquor and tobacco will reveal that although temporary gains have been achieved in the relevant fields, no long term solution is in sight.

The liquor ban, imposed during the last New Year season was a bolt from the blue for the consumers. Press reports indicate that many dealers made vast profits by selling liquor at three times the market price. The originators of "Mathata Thitha" boast of achieving reduced liquor sales, and reduction of road accidents and brawls. However, everything now is back to pre-New Year conditions. Hence, one has to conclude that it was a futile exercise.

We have to stress that it is a waste of time and resources, attempting to rehabilitate mature and elderly people, most of whom take a 'tot' prior to dinner.

On the other hand, a concerted effort should be made to dissuade the younger generation from becoming addicts. This is a sacred duty not only of the state, but also of the entire society.

This same rule applies to tobacco. Perhaps, present day activists against liquor and tobacco were not even born in the immediate post Independence era, when it was considered absolutely normal practice to have a few drinks at any get-together or any special function.

Being an octogenarian, that was my experience. When I was a student at Ceylon Technical College during 1947-50 period, we had a lecturer, who always had a tin of "peacock" cigarettes on his table, because he was a chain smoker.

Further, Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was conspicuous with his pipe, always in hand, while ministers such as C.P de Silva invariably carried a tin of "555" cigarettes. Today's addicts among the adults and elders were moulded in that fashion, thus the need to forget about their possible conversion, and solely concentrate on the younger generation.

In consideration of the gravity of the drug menace and criminal driving under the influence of liquor, it should be evident that the on-going campaign should change course as follows:-

• Confine the campaign to the younger generation with more and more vigour.
• Declare a relentless war against the drug menace with deterrent punishment to drug traffickers, on the lines of the on-going anti-terrorist measures.
• For driving under the influence of liquor, in lieu of imposition of fines, impose suspension of driving licence.

The above measures would constitute a perfect "Mathata Thitha", producing lasting results.

By G.G.J. Kotte