By Theo Adebowale

|

Wine is reckless, liquor rowdy; unwise in anyone whom it seduces. But because it cheers people’s hearts not a few in the population fall for it. Many stagger for wine. Many treat alcohol as an article for recreation and because of self discipline they do not regard it as anything serious, as a matter of fact they consider it delightful and only a certain quality of love is considered even by King Solomon in his Songs of Songs to be more delightful than wine.
Christendom frowns at abuse of wine hence whoever desires the office of Bishop, even that of deacon is admonished not to be given to wine. The Pentecostals emphatically prohibit the use of alcohol by those that are born again. Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, and emphatically, during Ramaddan, Islamic faithfuls are admonished to keep a safe distance from it. Islamic f undamentalists may decide to snuff life out of anyone caught to be sipping beer, or any form of intoxicants.
During the colonial era, a certain type of alcohol was branded illicit gin, so it was outlawed and some locals were prosecuted and earned jail terms for consuming or being in possession of illicit gin. It took Tai Solarin’s effrontery to legitimise its use. Enough evidence can easily be provided to justify prohibition of consumption of alcohol. When some users try to justify its consumption by claiming that Jesus Christ produced wine at the marriage in Cana, some Christians particularly of the Pentecostal claim that the wine was non-alcoholic. It does not occur to them that fruit juice is not capable of bursting wine skin. It is alcohol, the preservative that makes the new wine burst the old wine skin!
Nonetheless, abuse of alcohol, like any form of drug abuse is inimical to health, the family, career and the community. Not a few people have had their health ruined by alcohol. Under the influence of alcohol, many homes have been broken, lives lost and careers were destroyed. Many a community has been thrown into mourning by gun shots fired by drunken trigger happy cops, and motorists under the influence of alcohol. The addictive nature of alcohol worsens the situation as some users of wine have run into debts in an effort to satisfy their appetite. In some cases they end up not only in indebtedness, but also in causing the collapse of the retailer. Hawkers have found a means of livelihood in motor parks and slums where they attract touts and hoodlums who constitute their clients, consumers of their commodities. Irrational nature of drug addicts ensures they drink on empty stomachs and replace menu with alcohol. It should therefore be a source of concern for officials whose duty is to regulate production, quality and distribution of foods and drugs to show concern for adulteration of alcoholic drinks and liberalization of its consumption. It would not be out of place to contemplate snatching alcohol from him that is perishing. What an effort towards fulfilling a moral obligation, the paternalistic responsibility of the state?
For the state to be alive to its responsibility, it must go beyond regulating consumption of beverages, imposing restriction on breathing, sleeping and waking up. For the state to acquire the moral authority to influence certain patterns of behaviour it must not only have paid considerable attention to the well being of the citizens, it must have demonstrated beyond doubt that it is committed to the welfare of the people. It would be out of place if the state would embark on seizing the wares of those who hawk such substances without, or before providing alternative business to keep them economically active, and fetch them their daily bread. Come to think of it, what is the purpose of clamping down on consumers of essential services with prohibitive tariffs when they are in captivity of a plague? Whereas coronavirus cannot undermine the fortress of immunity of Nigerians, protocols of COVID-19 are firmly imposed on the people to the extent that means of livelihood have been paralysed, governments have no palliatives to distribute in the physical, while expenditures on enforcement of restrictions, and feeding school pupils in their dream are escalating.
Individuals watch their savings and pockets depleting inspite of billion of naira that governments declare to be spending. It is also a common talk that the rich and their agents are keeping a safe distance from market places, and must be making their purchases through proxies perhaps to avoid those who now take alms to access their daily bread. It is also speculated that the league of vote sellers has diminished, no thanks to political ritualists. They are said to resist the temptation to release funds from their political budget for family members even to run political errands. In one instance, Disbursement Accounts Officer has a standing instruction never to release a dime to any relation or relative. The cousin that was to go deliver campaign materials in Etsako West joined the queue to collect logistics. Having been paid, he turned to go and was face to face with the principal, his cousin who immediately compelled him to refund. He scolded him and frowned at his not approaching him for more if what he had given was not sufficient. Investigation revealed that blood relations are not supposed to partake in the spending of such money.
It was in such a scenario that some people in hopeless situations have resolved to steer clear of politicians and their free gift. Somebody in the neighbourhood was even warning her children not to collect food items like rice, beans, indomie or drinks from anybody. That shifts attention to salary earners, contractors and local businessmen residing in the neighbourhood. In a suburb of Akure some two weeks ago, it was reported that a group of young men was moving in the night from house to house banging on gates asking for food and money. They announced there was no food for them and those living in fortified houses should come out to give them the items. They must be taking a cue from Lagos and Ogun States where one million boys, no salary members, sana wo le, Caesar’s boys were on the prowl. This is a demonstration that there is frustration all over the place. We can also assume that most if not all of the partakers in such raids are consumers of alcohol in sachets. All the same, not all those who patronize such affordable alcoholic beverages are in the league of miscreants and forceful beggars. There are many more who would return home after refreshing at such joints.
Whatever, abuse of alcohol must be discouraged. It must be discouraged to minimize crime and curb youthful exuberance. There is enough in the stature books to do that. National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) does not have to go after those who find recreation, and those who get their daily bread from the sector. The state must make efforts to get more people to participate in farming to boost food production and distribution. There would be less time to spend at such joints. Food processing and preservation would get more youths gainfully employed. In the last six months or so, those hawking plantain chips have disappeared because there is no plantain to process whereas some technology would have made a difference.
There is a limit to legislation, confiscation, prohibition and the likes. They have a potential of expanding the black market and creating gangs. In spite of prohibition, hard drugs are available not only in the underworld but undeniably in the neighbourhood. The paternalistic function of the state would be better performed when alternative forms of recreation are provided, when alternative business is available and there is time for leisure. At their leisure moral suasion can be intensified to save the soul of the community.