The ban was passed with limited breathing space, which expanded after the liberation with the increasing number of foreign embassies, both Muslim and others, seeking to obtain their share of the ‘ration’ and dispose of them in or outside the embassy. They repeatedly demanded the repeal of the prohibition and to making alcoholic drinks available in five-star hotels, for example.
However, our ‘customs and traditions’, which usually shy away as soon as the plane takes off, have always been on the lookout for any suggestion of leniency, often out of hypocrisy or fear of criticism. The problem has exacerbated and become more troubling, with increasing speculation that continued prohibition serves the interests of those who benefit from the situation, perhaps, including alcohol dealers and smugglers or drug dealers. It is known that the absence of alcohol often leads to increased drug consumption, and lifting the prohibition and making it available will harm smugglers.
The issue of permitting alcohol consumption has historically been troubling for many countries around the world. The United States prohibited alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933, while permitting their possession within narrow limits. The law sparked widespread controversy at the time, and then it became clear it was nearly impossible to enforce due to the lack of public support and the increasing number of victims of prohibition.
Furthermore, it was a major factor in the growth of numerous criminal organizations, the emergence of a black market, and the loss of many lives and sight as a result of consuming inferior brands of alcohol. One of America’s most notorious gangsters, Al Capone, also emerged during prohibition, and corruption rates among politicians and security personnel surged. Therefore, we must discuss the prohibition of alcohol consumption in a logical manner. The recent poisoning incident, which was on the scale of a humanitarian disaster, is not the first, and it will not be the last, given the expansion of drug smuggling operations.
The excuse for the continued ban, based on the pretext that “society is conservative,” is in fact meaningless. All societies close to us consider themselves more conservative than us, yet they have not banned their use, albeit within certain limits. This is especially true given the significant rise in the number of drug addicts among us.
The official number has exceeded 80,000, which is far less than the actual number. Half of these are citizens, and their number among smugglers and dealers is also increasing alarmingly. Despite the tremendous efforts exerted by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior to combat drugs, these individuals have inherited a really heavy legacy. We need many rational and courageous voices in the Cabinet to discuss this issue, free from sensitivities and flattery, and with an open mind and mindset.
Note: I submitted this article for publication, and a day later, the authorities arrested two citizens – a Ministry of Interior soldier and a Customs employee – assisted by a Palestinian resident in an attempt to smuggle drugs worth KD 1.3 million. This news confirms what we mentioned about the increasing involvement of our citizens in this horrific crime!
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By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
