A lot is being said about the Maharashtra state government raising the legal drinking limit to 25 years. A few of them are in favour of it, while the major of them are debating the presence of the rule. I am sure many such debates would have taken place while the rule was being framed and the pros would have out classed the cons.
Like Tobacco, Alcohol production and trading gives a lot of revenue to the state government. Framing of such rule would definitely burn the pockets of the government. They would definitely miss on a lot of revenue which they would have earned through the production and sell of this dangerous product. However the state government should be applauded for coming up with such rule. I am sure they would have compared the potential revenue with the human loss and domestic violence that is caused due to the consumption of this product.
Most of the voices raised till now were from the class who consume alcohol or deal in alcohol. however very few has been heard from the non-drinkers. As a non-drinker, I have always been against the consumption of alcohol. It is not that I am against the high that this product gives you, but it is the domestic violence, early deaths and road accidents that makes be stand against this product.
Lot of people are saying that if the age limit of marriage and voting can be 21 and 18, then why are youngsters being considered immature to drink at the age of 18 or 21. Voting and marriage are not addictions, and to a great extent are necessities of life. Voting rights come into the picture on a very few occasions. They form the government and do not have any direct influence on the voter's right. Though a voter (under 25 years), is impacted by the government that is formed and their policies, he is not directly responsible for this formation. As against voting and marriage, drinking, is a luxury and more dangerously an addiction.
In foreign countries the drinking limit is as low as 16. However the fact that the climatic conditions (cold weather) in most of these countries favour drinking and the youngsters over here mature earlier that Indians do (physically and psychologically) can not be neglected. At the age of 21, an average Indian youngster is still dependent on his parents for his daily bread and other physiological needs. An average American or Russian is already independent at this age and is staying on his own. The weather in Maharashtra is hot and humid and does not require the consumption of alcohol to keep him cool.
Psychology states that a person gets addicted to smoking and drinking mostly before the age of 23. Very few youngsters have taken up drinking and smoking after the age of 23. The influence of peers/friends in this matter, reduces after this age and he/she is in a position to decide what is good for him and what is not. Before the age of 23, a person is highly influenced by his peers and friends. A youngster is in a mid state during this period. He is neither a child nor a man. The psychological and physical changes taking place in him makes him an easier target. The hurry to grow up and reveal his manliness to his friends and girls, results in him taking up drinking and smoking, which unfortunately his thinks is sign of being a man or being cool. If this psychological fact is to be believed, then raising up the drinking limit to 25 would reduce the drinking class substantially. Another reason that goes in favour of the rule.
Irrespective of the pros and cons of the rule, the state government should be applauded for coming up with such bold rule. I am hopeful and positive that many such bold rules would come up against the evils of the society. I am in favour of the implementation of this rule and any father would appreciate it to.
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