Pubdate: Tue, 06 Jun 2000
Source: National, The (New Guinea)
Copyright: 2000, The National
Contact:  PO Box 6817, Boroko, NCD, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Website: http://www.wr.com.au/national/index.html
Author: Alex Goiye

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
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart