Mhonbemo Kithan
Fully agree with the fact that NLTP Act 1989 was a total failure and if lifted the alcohol quality ‘might’ improve and licensed alcohol will become cheaper.
However, there is also no denying of the drawbacks that alcohol consumption brings in, if consumed excessively. Also, I'm not trying to imply that people those who do not consume alcohol are saints.
I've met the best of humans who consume and worst kind who doesn't consume. Non consumption of alcohol doesn't give you righteousness license.
My concern are directed at those innocent and vulnerable teens who aren't yet exposed to such open availability of alcohol in the market.
I'm not talking about the teens coming from ‘privileged family’, but mostly middle class and below, whose parents are protecting them from consumption because not only health wise, but once addiction hits, the financial woes it'll bring in their family. We will be taking off that protection and privilege from them.
There are many who testify that till they were studying within our state, alcohol was something which they won’t even think of consuming. Later, when they go out of state for further studies, the openly availability of alcohol made them give a try and got addicted unfortunately.
Some of us are fortunate to have been saved by the NLTP act, where we didn't see alcohol sold openly or easily available till we became adults. By then, will power and choice to not consume took over.
The age bar surely won't be checked strictly given of our record of governance and thus, my major concern lies for the upcoming children how they're going to face the challenge.
The issue here isn't, ‘those who will consume will consume’, but creating the right environment for our children to make their own choice till they're able.
Lastly, if there is a welcome change, may we all be vigilant and each one of us take responsibility to rebuke and deny underage citizens/Children from buying & consuming alcohol as the law suggest.
May the changes in the act only take us forward and not drag our society backwards.
God bless my Nagaland.
