Study alcohol abuse in PNG

OP/ED

A former kumul and respected member of the Port Moresby community is now death. Police are investigating the killing but according to reports, the man was shot death at point blank range in front of a popular Port Moresby night club in the early hours of the morning.

News of the shooting spread throughout the city the next day but that night, all over Port Moresby, the night clubs were packed to capacity, as alcohol infused brains danced and continued to drink the night away, without any thought about their safety.

There are many nightclubs that operate in the city of Port Moresby. Many of these clubs operate right through the night and alcohol is sold to the patrons – from the young to the old, who all have a good time.

Nightclubs are not the only places where one gets to buy alcohol in Port Moresby. There are hotels and bottle shops in the city that sell the liquor. In settlements and some residential areas, there are shops that sell alcohol, even at very odd hours. Some even operate 24 hours.

We tend to agree with Government and Moresby North East MP, Andrew Mald that deaths and injuries related to alcohol abuse have gone up in Port Moresby. There is never a weekend that goes by without a road accident. If these accidents do not result in a death, then there are people rushing to the Port Moresby General Hospital or one of the private hospitals in the city, seeking treatment for injuries.

While businesses want to make money and the National Capital District Commission needs the fees and taxes to run the services in the city, there is a serious need to look at the cost of alcohol to the community in general. Andrew Mald is not alone in expressing his concern over alcohol abuse in the city. There are women’s groups, churches and leaders in the city that are very concerned about the impact alcohol is having on the community. It is not only the factory produced alcohol that is of concern to these groups and individuals. Production and consumption of home brewed alcohol, a very potent substance, is widespread among the youths in the city. The consumption of this substance, together with drugs, is a situation that has the potential to develop into an economic problem, should the authorities continue to ignore it.

Now, the virtues of alcohol can be debated until the cows come home. And we do not want to get into that; however, we support the view that something must be done about the abuse that is the concern here. Since alcohol was first introduced to Papua New Guineans until now, alcohol or beer has developed a culture in PNG already. We would be naïve to suggest that Port Moresby or PNG for that matter bans alcohol completely. If that was to be done, this will not work at all.

What we think should be done is for an independent authority to carry out a study into the whole situation. The study should review all existing laws governing sale and consumption of alcohol, any other relevant laws that can also address alcohol fueled issues, and the sanctions that can be enforced on offenders. The study should also look at rules and regulations covering licenses, the conditions of the various types of licenses, fees and all other issues. After a through investigation, the study should come up with recommendations for the government or the local authorities to implement.

Businesses can still make money from alcohol and they must do this in a safe and peaceful community. And they must make their money in ways that are cost effective to their patrons, the other residents in the city and the government.

It is time the Government, through its relevant departments like community development, education, health and the National Capital District Commission, the local MPs from the city get serious about alcohol abuse. They should talk with manufacturers of alcoholic products to decide on funding and the terms of reference for the study team to get to work. The sooner this is done and a way forward in this business is found, the better it will be for everyone concerned. 

For more money is expected in the years ahead from the resource projects and the traditional cash crops in PNG, due to the continued good prices. The increased revenue is surely going to filter into the pockets of Papua New Guineans, and if no attempt is made to address matters like alcohol abuse now, it may be too late.