By - Imlisanen Jamir
As the year winds down and the air fills with the scent of festivities, we find ourselves on the cusp of another holiday season. Streets are adorned with lights, homes echo with laughter, and roads, for once, promise smoother drives. Yet, the same roads often become the stage for preventable tragedies during this time of joy and celebration. The culprit? A perilous mix of alcohol and driving.
Despite numerous awareness campaigns, strict laws, and the ever-growing repository of cautionary tales, drinking and driving continue to mar the season. In Nagaland, where the fabric of community life is tightly knit, this issue carries an added layer of complexity. The state’s prohibition policy and its informal, often self-regulated social frameworks create a paradox. While seizures of alcohol by police or community groups might make headlines, these actions scarcely address the root of the problem.
Driving under the influence (DUI) remains a persistent hazard, not because of a lack of awareness but due to a lack of personal accountability. The statistics—tragically incomplete due to underreporting—reveal a sobering reality. Each fatality or injury represents a ripple of grief, extending beyond the individuals involved to their families, friends, and communities.
What makes this time of year particularly dangerous? The abundance of celebratory libations, coupled with a pervasive sense of invincibility, leads many to make poor choices. Individuals who are otherwise pillars of responsibility and decorum succumb to the misguided belief that “one drink won’t hurt.” But it’s never just one drink, nor is it ever just one life at stake.
Moreover, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: prohibition has failed to create a safer environment. Instead of confronting the real dangers of alcohol misuse, it has pushed the issue into the shadows, where accountability becomes even harder to enforce. The police, burdened with administrative complexities and societal pressures, often act only after tragedy strikes. Settlements outside the formal justice system further dilute the deterrence DUI laws are meant to provide.
So what’s the way forward? The answer lies in embracing a culture of personal responsibility. Celebrating responsibly doesn’t mean sacrificing joy; it means planning ahead. Designate a sober driver, call a cab, or arrange for a ride-sharing service before you take that first sip. These small, proactive steps ensure that you’ll be around to create more memories, instead of becoming part of a grim statistic.
We must also move beyond the tokenism of awareness drives and seizures. Real change requires community-wide introspection. Schools, churches, and local organizations can play a pivotal role in fostering discussions that shift the narrative from “how to curb drinking” to “how to celebrate safely.” Enforcement agencies, too, need to step up, not just in penalizing offenders but in creating systems that make safer alternatives easily accessible.
This holiday season, let’s redefine what it means to spread cheer. The most precious gift you can give—to yourself, your loved ones, and your community—is the gift of safety. Let’s honor the season by cherishing life and ensuring that no family has to face an empty chair at their table next year.
Drive sober. Plan ahead. Celebrate responsibly. This year, let’s choose to make the roads a place of passage, not of peril.
Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com
