The trend of alcohol drinking
is on the rise in the country, despite that under the law drinking is prohibited
and banned for Muslims and entails punishment in case of violation.
Though consuming alcohol is prohibited under Islamic injunction, but it was
banned under law first time in 1977, by the then Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto.
Besides, the prohibition of drinking in Islam and law of the land, it has also
negative impacts on human heath.
Drinking too much alcohol causes loss of brain cells, liver failure, stomach
ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve
damage, and heart failure.
Medical expert says that if use of alcohol does not cause immediate problems,
even then the use can cause major problems down the line over a period of time.
Recently, a leading UK newspaper Guardian published a report regarding the
alarming rise in alcoholism.
The newspaper said that the law banning alcohol drinking was ignored, and
alcohol is widely available and, for those who go too far, addiction clinics
offering help are quietly flourishing.
The newspaper quoted an addiction counselor, Dr Sadaqat Ali, as saying “There’s
plenty of business.” Dr Sadaqat Ali chain of clinics treated 500 alcoholics this
year. The newspaper quoted Dr Ali estimates saying that 10 million Pakistanis
drink alcohol, 1 million of whom have a problem.
The paper said that former president Pervez Musharraf made little secret of his
fondness for a drink; neither does his successor, Asif Ali Zardari.
Dr Ali told the paper that bureaucrats, politicians, army generals and others
are among his clients. “That’s our target market. We call it the golden
triangle: rich, educated and influential,” he said.