For me this is a very complicated and sensitive topic. Inspite of that, I have always wanted to write about it. My writing on this topic is not from a general perspective meaning not due to something I see on the television or read in the papers. Rather it is from a very personal experience and point of view.
I know several people close to me who are addicted to alcohol. They have lots of justifications. Some people say they are drinking because they are sad and then there are the people who drink when they are happy, there are also the people who drink when they are either happy or sad. Majority of the drinkers are in the latter category. Some of them when confronted say "I had only one. I stopped" or "I can stop whenever I want. I will stop next month" or "I had to give company to my friends, what would they think?". They drink for bachelor parties, for reunions, marriages and deaths. The excuses are unending and most of the drinkers don't even think what they are doing is a big deal. When they are drunk, some of them talk a lot or show a lot of affection, some of them spit out verbal insults, some of them get physical. But in all the cases, one thing is common, when they are drunk, they refuse to see anything wrong with their situation and if you confront them when they are sober, they don't want to talk about it.
I have seen personal tragedies and there is another side to this alcoholism other than the person who drinks, the people related to the drinker.I lost a cousin to alcohol and so did my husband. Also I know many people who are so deep in it that they can't get out of it. They are drowning in the one thing they embraced to erase their sorrow. What they don't realise is that drinking doesn't remove their problems, it just adds one more to their list.
There is nothing more painful than seeing the family of the person who is addicted to alcohol. Theirs is a story of sadness, insecurity and pain till the end of life. Men are supposed to be the anchors of the family, the physically stronger sex who should provide security and be the person the family members can lean on. But when they get addicted to alochol and just pass out, its the family that loses its strength. They realise that they can no longer rely on a person who can be easily tempted to take alcohol and can pass out at any time. Their tears are neverending, mothers crying about their sons, wife's worrying about their husbands and children losing contact with their fathers.
Alcohol is evil and I only wish people would realise that. The government may say verbally that you can't drink but all I know is that they make sure that there is enough alcohol available for everyone to drink. They love the money they are getting out of it, they don't care if people's lives are ruined or they get killed.
Alcohol advertising is banned in India, so they just show ads of Kingfisher club soda or other things that remind people of alcohol brands. The alcohol industry spends considerable amount of money to increase consumption and brand loyalty. In the US however they are allowed to show ads related to alcohol, they just say "drink responsibly" at the end. What exactly does drink responsibly mean? People who are addicted to alcohol are not going to change their drinking style just because they say "drink responsibly".
If you notice, alcohol ads are so colourful, full of rhythm, stylish and they appeal to the younger audience. Alcohol education should be a must in all schools. Students should not only be taught about the ill-effects of alcohol, they should be shown real videos of homes that are brought down by alcohol. They should be shown videos of people who have lost livers or have other diseases because of alcohol. They should be shown the worst situations, teaching is not enough. They have to know what would happen if they went through with it.
The concerning part is that now a lot of ladies are also taking to alcohol. The best things parents can do for their kids is not drink themselves and not expose them to drinking. I have seen that if none of the family members drink and they have a good relation with the kids, a large majority of such kids will not take to alcohol. Because they have their family to talk to them when they have a problem. The family members should be open, allowing their kids to tell them anything they want. That way kids will feel safer and comfortable coming to you with their problems and telling you about what is happening in their lives. Families contribute a lot to the drinking habit. We can't stop everyone but we can do the right thing. It's our decision.
Please say 'NO' to alcohol.
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