Re: Maharashtra Government's decission to ban night clubs

[Guest guest]

Dear List Readers, Dr Sathyanarayanan and the Maharashtra Government,

Some of our best Prevention efforts are centred in Night Clubs

Security staff keep a look out for trouble, Management agrees to prevention and

education material being available and, being prominent, In some cases we also

have on site testing and counselling staff available on a confidential basis for

patrons. Patrons have to prove their age and identity when they attend, Breath

testing facilities are available to those who might want to check their

competence to drive home and free non alcoholic drinks are provided to

designated drivers who determine not to drink alcohol for the evening.

Maharashtra Government please dont walk down that useless and non productive

pathway that Goa and Delhi recently trod. Utilise the potential and the

opportunity while it is being offered to you.

Regulate, manage risk reduction, understand harm minimisation for the sake of

the people of Maharashtra but the history of prohibition is well documented.

Don't go there. Look at Gujarat and the volume of alcohol that is consumed often

brewed dangerously and realise that behaviour change comes from education and

information not punishment and prohibition.

Make life easier and make solutions imperative but don't try to lock the gates

because the horses will bolt into the suburbs and villages and the damage will

be that much more difficult to contain.

Thanks Dr Sathyanarayanan. I am tired of trudging around India and watching the

carnage and then waiting for SACS programs to pick up the slack which never

seems to happen.

It is kind of you to wave this flag because it is an important check point in

the race against time for constuctive behaviour change.

Geoffrey

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>