Public Anger Against Wine Shops

      As per reports more then half of Punjab youth is taking drugs, state government has open rehabilitations centers for the welfare of those who wants to quit drugs, but worst side of drugs story is that even teenagers are also attracting towards drugs, as any society’s future is teenagers and youth but if one third are dependent on drugs then its really shocking and horrifying picture. To increase its revenue state government is backing up the sale and wine shops in the rural as well as urban areas, but in Punjab state it has seen in recent times that local population of rural areas are against the opening of wine shops in and around there vicinities and even in Punjab state’s Punjab Panchayat Raj Act 1994 section 40(1) says if any Panchayat forward proposal which is clear and supported by two third majority to the excise department then excise department cannot open wine shops in that villages’. One of the metro of state people demonstration against the wine shop, and on another place people were angry and demanding of close down of wine shop. Even in one of its verdict relating to opening of wine shop Supreme Court bar One hundred meter radius around education institution and hospitals but it is not strictly follow by the state government.
     Impact of intoxication seen on to the bodies of youth of state of Punjab during the recruitment time of army, out of thirty six thousand aspirants to join army unfortunately only eight hundred seventy five were selected, rest were failed to meet the requirement standards of army. As per words of army officials who select new recruitment for army due to lack of physical movements and intoxication downfall registered among Punjab’s youth, who is responsible for this downfall? One can easily say frustration and youth both are responsible for it as youth attracts towards intoxication in enthusiasm but when they trap in financial crises or other reasons then starts taking intoxication on regular basis, hence spoil there health and become addicts then unable to move without intoxication even for daily routine, at the same time flow of wine in the state one can blame to state government which is giving licenses’ to wine contractors to open wine shops without considering the consequences’ of it, as below is example in which despite protest by local residents and oppositions state government step ahead to permit wine shops-

• Under section 40(1) of Punjab panchayat act 1994 if excise department receive two third support of panchayat not to open wine shops then it bar excise department to open wine shops but unfortunately under section 40(B) within two years period of proposal if department receive in writing, if case of smuggling or home made liquor case found, then in that case proposal of such villages’ will be rejected and excise department can open wine shops there, as it is happen in the Sangrur, when out of twenty one panchayat proposal nine proposal were rejected and department permit to open wine shops there.

It is responsibility of state government not to step ahead for opening of wine shops in villages’ just to inflate the government exchequer, because it attract youth, if it is available around there areas easily and freely and make them addicts, instead government should make harsh law that under twenty one years age no customers can purchase wine from the shops.