If Governments were to announce that they will impose stricter legislations on the production and distribution of alcohol before eventually ruling out alcohol as an illegal substance, it would have large ripple effects on the economy, create a rise in unemployment as their will be job losses on a large scale. Are those jobs worth the lives of the families torn apart by alcohol related crimes and accidents? I remember in my early high school years, underage drinking was riff on weekends, teenagers were allowed into bars and night clubs because in a small town everybody is friends, liquor stores would sell alcohol and have little to no security measures to prevent the underage sale of liquor and some parents even permitted it.
Society has shone a dim light on the seriousness of alcohol abuse. Weather it was underage or legal drinking, every physical or verbal altercation, car accident, death, divorce or dropout, alcohol was related in some way. The premise of this article is to put a greater emphasis on the seriousness of alcohol abuse. Should it be harder for someone to go out and “grab a beer”, should there be tighter restrictions on the sale of alcohol? Or should something be done once and for all and make the production, the consumption and distribution of alcohol a criminal offense? Those questions may seem absurd! Those questions may even be ridiculed, something perfectly normal and so widely participated in, across the globe.
The Alcohol Industry
The alcohol industry is a massive employer globally. It provides millions of people with employment opportunities from, bar and nightclub owners, restaurants, wine estates, distilleries and breweries and the millions of staff that work hard to produce it. That same liquid is enjoyed on public holidays, weddings and even funerals, afternoon brunches, to live sporting events, outdoor music festivals and concerts and even just a glass after work to relax and unwind after a tough day at the office. Alcohol was even spoken of during biblical times. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” – Ephesians 5:18. The alcohol industry as we all know it is a huge market all together. It has been documented by Euromonitor International (2018) that the sale of alcohol generates roughly around $1 trillion dollars annually. It was reported in 2017, according to the market research provider Euromonitor, ‘global retail sales of alcohol were estimated to be worth more than $1.5 trillion’ (Euromonitor International, 2018).
The production and distribution are key role players in many counties as they generate large sums of income and create vast employment, if alcohol were to be made illegal there would be millions of people across the globe who would now face the harsh reality of looking for new work, the consequences may be catastrophic. If tighter bans were to be imposed on alcohol how badly would that effect the unemployment and are the lives effected by the irresponsible abuse of alcohol greater than the lives of those it provides jobs for? “In America alone there are approximately 3,000 beer wholesaling companies in the United States”, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association (2019)
If we look at the Alcohol industry more in depth, we are able to identify that the large-scale demand for alcohol has a strong presence in our economies, one of the factors that influence this, is the large sum of capital spent of the promotion and advertising of liquor and liquor related brands. Big sporting events such as Rugby World Cup (Heineken) IPL Cricket (Castel Larger) Ultimate Fighting Champion (Modello) Premiere League Football teams (Guinness, Chang) all have these big sponsors whose advertisements can be seen throughout fixtures, on the players sporting attire as well as throughout the stadiums and arenas they occupy. “It has been reported by Fox Sports (June 18, 2013) that “The T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas holds a capacity of up to twenty thousand people.
Sporting is a major marketing and delivery service for the sale of liquor because it can be enjoyed by such a wide audience over a lengthy period of time. The importance of correct marketing and exposure for leading alcohol brands is crucial for the growth of other industries. As mentioned earlier sporting events play a big role in the marketing and sale of alcoholic beverages and it has been said that ‘alcohol producers are the most active players in shaping marketing environments” (Jernigan, 2000a). Sporting events bring communities, nations together, would tighter restrictions on alcohol affect these markets too?
Alcohol Abuse and Underage Drinking Is Destroying the Youth
Alcohol abuse is becoming a widespread problem throughout most communities, causing fatal road accidents or causing life changing disabilities, leaving families torn apart and facing dire straits with legal fees, hospital and funeral cost, mourning. These are only a few of the ripple effects caused by the tragedy of alcohol abuse. When there is a big sporting fixture or concert for most of the attendees come by car with a small portion that will use public transport services like Uber, anticipating a late night out. But for those who do not the risk does not seem to be serious enough. The winning teams supporters go on to celebrate their victory and the losing team goes on to ‘drown their sorrows’.
Local bars, restaurants, resorts and hotels all benefit, usually after a sporting events but at a heavy cost. Teenagers are at the very core of this problem, taking advantage of the festivities and enjoying the easy sale of liquor. Although alcohol is readily consumed for the sake of ‘good times and fond memories’, sadly to say it doesn’t always end as planned. It has been recorded by the World Health Organization, (2014) that “Alcohol use causes 3.3 million deaths per year worldwide, is the seventh leading cause of global death and disability and is a component cause of more than 200 disease and injury conditions”.
The Major concern now is the readily available supply of alcohol and the abuse there of. Think of the local stores in your vicinity, think how many of them you could go to now and purchase any quantity of liquor you desire. It goes to say that if you have the funding then there is no limit to the amount of alcohol you can buy. This is frightening because young adults who are not yet of the legal drinking age can still easily access that liquor.
Above is a survey that took place in Brazil. The survey aimed to identify the various age groups and the percentage of whom had in fact participated in binge drinking. Let us first understand what is seen as ‘Binge drinking’. In this case it has been based upon dosage, binge drinking would be considered above four drinks in one session.
So why the strong emphasis on underage drinking? Underage drinking leads to a host of problems, adolescents who are not mature enough to handle their emotions and their desires often succumb to the perils inflicted by alcohol abuse. Teenagers are not able to control themselves and as they build up an immunity or tolerance, they begin to require more to get the same “buzz” and start to drink more than before. Teenagers would often have to leave the house to enjoy binge drinking with friends, some of whom may be older have influenced or pressured them into trying exciting new substances. The ripple effect of this may lead young adolescents down another road as alcohol becomes a gate-way drug.
Opening the door to experimenting with other substances. Further down the line adolescents now have a dependency on the substance which causes them to crave that. This could be a common problem in low-income families/communities as youths are using substance abuse to run away from problems they are faced with at home. Confrontations are likely to happen leading in violent assaults on people as teenagers may be lured into gang affiliations, unprotected sex which could spread Sexually Transmitted Infections/ Diseases (STI/STD) such as herpes, HIV and chlamydia are all known STDs that follow unprotected sex. The ripple continues as the community is now faced with underage pregnancy; single mothers who cannot finance the cost of their infants now become a liability for their immediate families.
Alcohol Related Crimes
During my own drinking experiences, the sensation felt after too much alcohol is a rush of confidence, there becomes a point were risk and fear just fails to meet reality, it feels like there will be no consequences for my actions. I was no longer afraid of rejection, I could talk to girls, I could talk to anyone and as a teenager I could now see the appeal of alcohol. It is a shot of confidence, everybody is having a great time, what is the worst that can happen? It has been reported that “11.1 million victims of violent crime each year, almost one in four, or 2.7 million, report that the offender had been drinking alcohol prior to committing the crime” (Greenfeld 1998). Violence and alcohol seem to coincide, like Vodka and Red Bull, once mixed together they are a recipe for disaster. It is no secret that violence occurs as a result of alcohol abuse, people start to lose touch with reality and make irrational decisions based on their intoxicated mind.
“The high consumption of alcohol, both at home and in public places, coincides with increased criminal violent behaviour, that is, a growing number of violent incidents in both the private and public space. For example, 30 percent of Canadian residents (aged 18–60) had experienced violent behaviour while in licensed premises” (Graham et al., 2002)
Something small usually triggers breakouts in fighting and disobedience chaos shortly ensues, whether it is on the roads or in a nightclub or bar, as alcohol tolerance rises the level cooperation and understanding seem to diminish. “Indeed, alcohol consumption induces disinhibition, which in turn may lead to inappropriate social behaviour, characterized by impaired decision-making, distorted perceptions of social cues, agitation and loss of respectful behaviour” (Leonard, 1984). It has even been depicted in films as bar fights seem to be a common occurrence and so that common stereotype now plays out in reality to. Violent crimes like homicides, assaults, rape, robbery have been linked to prior alcohol use. “Intoxication plays a role in 36 percent of all violent crime in the United States, and 40 percent of those in the United Kingdom” according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2010; Office for National Statistics 2017.
According to sources Spapens (2001) The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW, 2015), a national survey, indicated that “More than half of violent incidents involved alcohol, such alcohol related violent incidents were common during late-night hours” (83–84 % occurred between 10 pm and 6 am) and at the weekend (70 % occurred between Friday night and Monday morning)”. It was further added by Spapens (2001). … “the southern part of the Netherlands, 42% of perpetrators of alcohol-related nightlife violence admitted that they became more aggressive under the influence of alcohol and according to some of them the offence would not have occurred if they had been sober (Spapens et al., 2001).
Years of alcohol abuse my go by with no hiccups, no legal issues and no domestic disputes, it may go on for years unnoticed, nobodies sees it coming but when it hits you, it won’t be going away like your average hangover. Health issues that arise from years of alcohol abuse start from liver disease which is caused by the alcohol metabolising in the liver, a toxic substance called acetaldehyde causes a variety of problems like alcoholic hepatitis. These issues prevent the liver from carrying out its normal functions which then over time lead to organ failure amongst other vital organs and then eventually death later ensues.
Another serious ailment caused by alcohol abuse is Pancreatitis. People who abuse alcohol over long periods of time are also at risk of cancer of the liver, stomach, colon, rectum and even breast cancer in females. Other serious ailments may include immune system dysfunction, stomach ulcers, intestine damage, brain damage, malnourishment and vitamin deficiencies, osteoporosis and heart and cardiovascular diseases. Again, some may get off lucky, no accidents or incidents until that one hangover just does not seem to get cured.
So as outlined in the above arguments it has clearly been stated that the abuse of alcohol and its availability are having serious effects on the community. Livelihoods are at stake, children are being brought into the world unbeknown to them what lies ahead, broken and abusive families, alcoholic parents. The chance of recovering from a world of pain is slim for those in rural, poverty-stricken communities, the easiest way out is just to continue, for some there is no way out.
So, in order to combat these problems for future generations to come. Regulations need to be imposed to ensure that drinking be done responsibly. Adjust the legal drinking age to where a more matured level of intellect can be reached twenty years of age, I strongly believe that teenagers are not mature enough to make the right decisions when under the influence. Set and enforce harsher penalties for people found abusing alcohol. Alcohol outlets should limit the amount of liquor sold to once customer and increase the price of alcohol so that people from low income brackets feel reluctant to purchase liquor.
According to the World Health Organization (2017), “The most effective and cost-effective interventions, are increasing the price of alcohol as well as reducing and restricting both the physical availability and the marketing of alcohol”.
Another measure which could be taken is to hire public transport companies like Uber to take collect and take people home safely, more emphasis needs to be put on road safety because there are many instances that innocent people are fatally injure or face life changing disabilities all at the hands of a drunk driver. Whether or not alcohol will ever be banned as illegal substance I stand firmly behind the idea that it needs to be monitored and sold more responsibly.
Reference
- Bureau of Justice Statistics (2010): Alcohol and Crime: Data from 2002 to 2008. [Online] Available from: https://www.bjs.gov/content/acf/25_crimes_by_knownoffenders.cfm
- Euromonitor International. (2018). Alcoholic Beverages—World. Retrieved from Passport, June 14, 2
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