Lucknow,3 Feb: A survey says nearly 80 percent of those visiting pubs and
bars in the Metro citiesare below the legal age of 25 years. The
findings come close on the heels of a shocking attack on young women
at a pub in another city. Of the underage population at the city's
pubs, 67 percent are below 21 years of age, according to the survey by
NGO Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD). Delhi's Excise Law bans
the sale of liquor to or by anyone below 25 years. If an underage
person is caught consuming alcohol or if the vendor is caught, it
could mean a fine of Rs.10,000.
However, the study finds the laws rather ineffective, as nearly 33.9
percent of those below 16 years of age easily procure alcohol from
government authorised liquor shops, bars and pubs.
The law prohibits any person below the age of 25 years to be employed
at any bar or pub. The offence is punishable with a fine of up to
Rs.50,000 or imprisonment of three months to be levied on the outlet.
Still, nearly 55 percent of those working as service attendants in
bars and restaurants are young boys and girls below the age of 25,
says the survey.
The research was conducted from December 2008-January 2009, amongst
1,000 youth who go to pubs and bars. Nearly 85 percent of the youth
surveyed were in the age group of 14 -21 even though the legal
drinking age in Delhi is 25 years.
"According to the survey, in Delhi annually about 2,000 youths under
age 21 die from motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries,
homicides and suicides that involve underage drinking -- Underage
drinking is a prelude to drunk driving and thus it is important to
curb it in the initial stages, so that it does not end up as a habit
among young individuals, " said Prince Singhal, founder of CADD.
Another startling fact revealed was that the drinking age in Delhi has
gone down from 28 to 19 years since 1990. CADD estimates that in
another five to seven years this figure may come down to 15 years.
The survey also found that it is not binding for liquor serving
outlets or vends to verify the age of the consumer.
As per the Delhi Excise Law, university students even at the
postgraduate and Ph.D level are underage as far as consumption of
alcohol is concerned. But the survey found that nearly 44.4 percent of
Class 12 students had consumed alcohol in the survey period.
"Underage drinking presents an enormous public health issue. Alcohol
is the drug of choice among children and young adults. This initiative
of a survey on underage drinking in the national capital was to
intensify research, evaluation and outreach efforts regarding underage
drinking," said Singhal.
CADD recommends that the minimum age limit for alcohol consumption
should be brought down to 21 years from the archaic 25 years keeping
in view the ground realities and that availability of liquor to minors
should be curbed whether it is in residential areas or at petrol
pumps.
Incidentally, the survey comes at a time when an incident at a pub in
Mangalore has left many Indians shocked over what they call 'moral
policing'. On Jan 24, activists of a rightwing group attacked young
women and men at the pub, saying the women were violating "traditional
Indian values".
Coming up with more intresting news next time ..........
No comments:
Post a Comment