adminattributed this phenomenal growth in the accident rate to excessive consumption of liquor which in turn leads to poor judgment, excitement and speeding among others.
This high rate of accidents on our roads can be viewed against the backdrop of a publication which appeared in The Herald late last year boldly exclaiming that Delta Corporation, one of Zimbabwe’s industrial giants, registered a whopping 800 percent increase in beer sales.
Would such an increase then in the accident rate on our roads during the Christmas period come as a surprise to a nation that is registering such a whopping increase in beer sales and consequently beer consumption?
Ironically, the increase in beer sales and beer consumption is against a backdrop of an economic downturn, with most companies either downsizing or operating below capacity or closing down altogether.
This is due to economic strangulation through the illegal sanctions regime imposed by Britain and its allies. Yet other commentators would consider such a phenomenal growth in beer sales as clear indication of economic recovery and the much anticipated turnaround of our economy.
Does this then mean that Zimbabwe is now awash with disposable income in the pockets of consumers as evidenced by their propensity to spend on beer? What with the arrival of this money transfer fad via EcoCash?
One would be forgiven if one lands from Mars and declare that Zimbabwe is now a paradise on earth if the adverts on the billboards now decorating our streets are anything to go by.
Ironically, statistics on the ground paint a totally gloomy picture, where the majority of employees, including civil servants, are earning far much less below the Poverty Datum Line, with both the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions agitating for a minimum wage of at least US$500 per month to enable a family of six to go through the month.
Now, if the figures released last year on beer consumption patterns are anything to go by, it simply means that a larger proportion of many people’s income is going towards beer consumption. Other basic and essential family necessities are being relegated to second, third or fourth priority positions.
Indeed, it is well and good that the economy should show such signs of economic recovery through increased volumes of consumables such as the reported increase in beer sales. But the question would be, at what price?
This reported increase in beer sales has been unfortunately accompanied by one ugly social malady as evidenced by the reported increase in the carnage on our roads during the festive season and a concomitant rise in alcohol-related problems with serious consequences to both the individual directly involved and society in general.
Firstly, there are behavioural problems associated with acute consumption that are usually very conspicuous and highly disruptive. Then there are also medical complications that can be linked to chronic consumption whose effects are often insidious and may not become apparent until irreparable damage has been done.
These problems that are associated with alcohol consumption continue despite the effects such problems may have on the individual. Alcohol consumption may result in severe illnesses, loss of relationships and family, unemployment, financial insecurity, loss of liberty and other dire consequences.
Indeed, alcohol consumption has become the most widespread and serious public health problem affecting many countries in the world, both developed and developing countries.
It has also become both a social problem in its own right and a major factor underlying a range of other physical and psycho-social problems, affecting many more people and a broader range of age groups than ever before.
Alcohol and its sister problem, drug abuse, have also become a major cause for morbidity and mortality, whose excesses in a developing country like Zimbabwe has the effect of becoming a major economic and financial drain on the fiscus and the health delivery system in general.
Experts in the medical fraternity are worried that excessive alcohol and other substance abuse, including single episode and occasional intoxication, affect health as well as social well being in a variety of ways.
In recent years, it has been established that the relationship between alcohol consumption, drug abuse and HIV transmission has become a serious cause for concern as people in a state of drunkenness and high on drugs tend to have less control of their faculties with the resultant effect of poor judgment and the consequent indulgent in risky behaviours.
Experts have also agreed that less well recognised, but statistically and medically more significant in terms of overall social impact, is the relationship between substance abuse and hepatitis, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis of the liver and neuropsychic disorders; disinhibition, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, complications in pregnancies, violent behaviours and suicides.
Abuse of alcohol furthermore, according to experts, constitutes one of the main causes of impairment of social competences and performances.
Studies show that in the case of otherwise healthy young people for example behavioural problems associated with substance abuse are currently among the major reasons for interrupted social and intellectual development.
These studies further proved that in the industrial and educational sectors, alcohol and substance abuse account for more work-days lost than any other single disease also featuring as a major cause of poor performances at work. Just as on the roads, alcohol has also become a leading cause for accidents and injuries.
Alcohol and substance abuse is also a major and critical factor in family disorganisation and breakdown, with the economic and social costs involved, being a major burden on the family finances regarding such essential family needs as food, education and general well-being.
It would appear that the pleasurable effects of alcohol consumption are being fuelled by the recklessness of the advertising industry, itself a consequence of capitalism’s heartlessness which puts profit as the system’s raison-d’etre before and above social, economic and moral considerations.
For we have all witnessed the havoc wreaked by the advertising industry in such cases as the promotion of Lactogen and other baby formulae being touted as the best alternative of breastfeeding, with the resultant increase in infant mortality rate, particularly in the developing world.
Our own mothers, sisters and daughters have been left with scars and deformed faces through the advertising industries promotion of skin lightening creams as opposed to the natural beauty that the Almighty gave to the African queen.
There is therefore need to encourage and indeed enforce alcohol consumption education at the societal level by restricting both supply and demand levels.
With regards to supply reduction a rigorous enforcement of the ban on consumption below the age of majority would go a long way to reduce the carnage on our roads as often times teenagers and young people have been involved in road accidents after having taken one too many.
It is also important to regularise the liquor licensing exercise, as it has become an obscenity to find that at any one service or business centre bottle stores and other liquor outlet far outnumber other business entities by a wider margin. This certainly would go a long way towards reducing the supply of alcohol and alcohol consumption.
Equally important is the need to reduce demand for alcohol consumption through changes to societal attitudes. This can be realised through strict monitoring of the advertising industry by the establishment of a board that regulates advertised material in so far as it affects social well-being.
Mass education campaigns in schools are also important, highlighting on the documented effects and dangers of drug abuse and alcohol consumption with special attention being given to such high risk population groups as the high income earners, the socially well to do and the youths.
The advertisement industry is also expected to act responsibly with their advertisements and through behavioural change particularly through the media with regards to the youths who should be encouraged to seek alternatives to alcohol consumption whose consequences and effects to society are aggravated.
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