adminAccording to the police, 14 rowdy youths were arrested for allegedly vandalising property and other misdemeanours after the trade fair.
The number of arrests suggested that the majority of the youths escaped the police dragnet.
We commend police for taking a tough stance on those few who were arrested. We cannot have a few louts spoiling the fun for the majority.
When people bring their families to the trade fair, it would be to enjoy themselves and not to be insulted or harassed by drunken hooligans.
We are concerned that drunkenness by youths has become a ritual at the country’s premier trade showcase.
Or maybe more worryingly our youths have become hooked on beer but the manifestations are only witnessed at ZITF because of the very public nature of the event.
The behaviour of the youth drinkers begs some questions?
Where do these young boys and in some instances girls — who seem to have taken the issue of gender equality far by competing with their male counterparts to partake beer — get the money which allows them to be sloshed?
When they get home, what action does the parents or guardians take about their drunken state? We believe that all the youths who go to the ZITF come from homes and the onus is on parents to ensure that their children, especially those under the age of 18, behave appropriately.
We think many youths are getting it wrong to think having fun at the ZITF is getting drunk and behaving silly at the end of the day. To these youth, ZITF is no trade fair without alcohol.
We must not bring up a generation that thinks that the only way to have a good time is to get drunk. There are so many things the youths can do to entertain themselves apart from drinking beer.
Besides being a danger to their health, alcohol can lead to a lifetime of regrets. Imagine a drunken girl in the company of equally drunk boys. The dangers of the girl being sexually abused are very high.
These youths might also think that drinking is harmless fun. Far from it. They might become hooked at a young age and become lifelong alcoholics, leading to an early death.
We urge the police to stamp out people taking advantage of our youths by selling them alcohol and drugs.
Under the laws of this country it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18.
While most bars adhere to this law, we know there are some outlets which put profit before ethics and sell liquor to under-age imbibers.
The police must descend on these unscrupulous bars, bottle stores and beer gardens and the Liquor Licensing Board must revoke their licences.
Yet we are more worried about vendors that sell smuggled spirits from the streets. These spirits have a high alcohol content and come cheap, making them an easy attraction for the youths.
In fact, most youths in the ZITF grounds were drinking these spirits mixed with soft drinks. When one sees a youth sipping from a bottle of a soft drink, they just assume it is an innocent beverage in the bottle.
The time has come to take a tough stance on youth alcohol abuse lest we raise a generation of drunkards.
Online Reporter