Drukards all, listen -
First, man savours alcohol,
Then, liquor drinks liquor,
In the end, the liqour drowns
man!
(Japanese proverb)
Arguing along these lines, the author says that it is liquor that is
consuming man, and not the other way round.
Alcoholism has become a serious health problem; affecting individuals and households alike.
Given the rapid economic strides taken by the nation, the liquor companies are expecting the market for liquor to grow as well. All the major brand holders are trying to increase their business operations by opening local branches in this country.
Some of the reasons for the rise in alcoholism have been enumerated by the author as:
1. growing consumerism
2. a fall in moral values
3. weakenining family ties
4. modern (read "western") culture
But, these are mere excuses, as the real reasons lie elsewhere. According to studies that have been carried out, alcoholics have only themselves to blame as they suffer from low self-esteem (and easily get depressed), lack self-control, and are unable to cope with tension.
Alcoholism has an adverse impact upon a person's behavior and productivity. Another problem is that persons who imbibe liquour never seem to know when to stop. alcohol abuse> It is only a short step away to alcohol dependency, wherein a person becomes fully dependant upon the continuous intake of alcohol. The amount of liquor needed to get drunk only increases with time. The real problem with drunkenness is that a drunk person loses (conscious) control of one's faculties. As a result, the person's behaviour becomes unhinged and unbalanced. As regards physiology, alcohol affects the blood sugar level; that is why consuming alcohol is not advised on an empty stomach.
Alcohol is also the cause of almost half of all road accidents that take place. As they say, drink and driving do not mix, because drunken driving only increases the chance of accidental death.
There are a number of common misconceptions - regarding the consumption of alcohol - that need to be cleared:
1. A healthy diet does not counteract the effects of alcohol.
2. Consuming alcohol does not raise body temperature in cold weather.
3. A person can get drunk just by drinking beer.
4. Alcohol should not be consumed as water; specifically, medicines should not be imbibed along with alcohol.
Alcoholism is a (medical) disease, and (medical) treatment is strongly recommended. withdrawl symptoms> Many non governmental organizations - such as Alcoholics Anonymous - are taking an active part in dealing with the problem. It is not easy, but if a person is really determined to lead a new life, then he can gain freedom from the ill effects of alcohol.