Hypocrisy over liquor
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
FOURTEEN persons died in Bogra and adjoining areas after drinking spurious liquor or liquor laced with industrial alcohol. From time to time we hear of such tragic news. Action is taken against those who sell this poisonous liquor but after a while they are back in business. What is going on?
There is a certain hypocrisy working in this country. That people use alcohol (drink it that is) is apparent from the scores of bars all over the country although some will have you believe that it is 'banned' and that we are 'forbidden' from drinking on moral or legal grounds.
WE have no idea how much liquor is drunk daily in this country but we are more than just certain that it is a fair amount. A huge amount of liquor is imported or smuggled in, of course, but much more is manufactured in the country. Some come from the only liquor producing factory or distillery if you like-Carew's-but the rest are produced by clandestine outfits that produce various varieties of liquor. It is well known that the 'tax' collected are pocketed by local thugs, law enforcers and various officials who deal with narcotics.
The cutest twist is that you have to get a 'licence' from the narcotics department to be able to drink alcohol. And what does the certificate say? It says that the authorities permit your use of alcohol because they are convinced that you need to drink alcohol to stay in good health, hinting if you don't, you will have serious medical problems. Imagine. And just about anyone can 'buy' this certificate. It is better to get one because it can be very embarrassing if you are caught without one during raids by law enforcers.
The question is if people drink so much in this country why manufacturers of poisonous liquor are allowed to carry on their business? Why not put liquor under quality control?
Tuheen A Karim
Agrabad
Chittagong
There is a certain hypocrisy working in this country. That people use alcohol (drink it that is) is apparent from the scores of bars all over the country although some will have you believe that it is 'banned' and that we are 'forbidden' from drinking on moral or legal grounds.
WE have no idea how much liquor is drunk daily in this country but we are more than just certain that it is a fair amount. A huge amount of liquor is imported or smuggled in, of course, but much more is manufactured in the country. Some come from the only liquor producing factory or distillery if you like-Carew's-but the rest are produced by clandestine outfits that produce various varieties of liquor. It is well known that the 'tax' collected are pocketed by local thugs, law enforcers and various officials who deal with narcotics.
The cutest twist is that you have to get a 'licence' from the narcotics department to be able to drink alcohol. And what does the certificate say? It says that the authorities permit your use of alcohol because they are convinced that you need to drink alcohol to stay in good health, hinting if you don't, you will have serious medical problems. Imagine. And just about anyone can 'buy' this certificate. It is better to get one because it can be very embarrassing if you are caught without one during raids by law enforcers.
The question is if people drink so much in this country why manufacturers of poisonous liquor are allowed to carry on their business? Why not put liquor under quality control?
Tuheen A Karim
Agrabad
Chittagong