CHIMBU LIQUOR BAN MUST GO

I WRITE to support the call made by Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Peter Waieng to
remove the liquor ban in Chimbu province. The ban that was put in place
during the 1997 National Election served its purposes effectively only for
that short period. However, in long term, it has created more problems.

Some of the problems caused by the prolonged ban in Chimbu are:

* People turning to marijuana as a substitute for legal alcohol such as
beer, whisky and rum;

* People turning to illegal alcohol production;

* People using other alcohol products that are used for purposes such as
medicine and industry;

* Illegal retailers risking their lives by smuggling beer and spirits
through rough terrain like between Madang and Chimbu through Mt Wilhelm route;

* A lot of travelling passengers getting drunk in Goroka before travelling
to Chimbu causing discomfort among other travelling passengers;

* The public in Chimbu and Western Highlands travelling long distances to
Daulo summit or even Goroka town just to have a few bottles of beer thus
wasting time, money and risk travelling long distances; and

* Liquor smuggled into Chimbu being sold at extremely high black market prices.

Out of all the problems mentioned above, the marijuana and illegal alcohol
production are probably the most significant problems that pose great
health hazard.

It is indeed very sad to see in Chimbu that a lot of young and old people
have used marijuana as a substitute for legal alcoholic beverages such as
beer and whiskey. Many have become addicted to marijuana and the long-term
effects of marijuana will be severe.

The local production of illegal alcohol has also increased. The illegally
produced liquor pose a grave threat to the health of those who use it
because there are not proper quality control measures. Again, these illegal
alcohol production are the direct result of the pro-longed liquor ban in
Chimbu.

Mr Waieng was right when he made the call for Simbu provincial government
to lift the liquor ban. The problems created by the liquor ban have
overwhelmed the good benefits that it was intended for in the first place.

Alex Goiye, Kerowagi, Chimbu province