Therefore, the state of our youth today determines what becomes of the country in future.

If the axiom that a childhood shows a man like the morning shows the day proves true, the country’s future looks rather bleak, given that 54 percent of the total youth population, which makes up almost 56 percent of the country’s population, consume alcohol.

It is a matter of concern, because alcohol is drowning a majority of the country’s arguably productive age group. The gravity of the issue stirred debates at parliament, stimulated numerous awareness campaigns, various media organisations continue to bring up the issue from time to time and initiatives such as alcohol anonymous (AA) groups were created. But they fizzle out after stirring a mere storm in a teacup.

Rules, such as having to observe a dry-day and checking identities of people before selling liquor, are flouted just as soon as they are made. On the one hand, the government shows its concerns over the country’s drinking trend and, on the other, it continues issuing licenses to as many applicants as it receives, turning almost every shop in the country into a bar.

Alcohol, it goes without saying, is the root of many other social problems, such as domestic violence and divorce. Such cases normally leave a trail of other social ills, beginning with the upbringing of children, who usually go astray without stable parents to guide them.

In consequence, children take to drinking and other drugs. School dropout rates increase, rendering a major chunk of the future generation unemployable. Seeing slim possibilities of returning to a normal life, they switch to stronger drugs or mix them with alcohol to douse their recurring remorse and hardship. Frustration leads to violence and the government complains of rising crime rates in the country.

The difficulty of addressing the issue, some say, has to do with alcohol being deeply rooted in the country’s customs.

A fresh graduate, who recently returned from a tour of villages in the east, was shocked to find how the tradition of consuming alcohol was still rife to this day, where villagers consumed alcohol from dawn till dusk.

First there is zhengchang (alcohol offered on rising) instead of bed tea, then tohchang with breakfast, tsoechang at lunch, tshochang to go with dinner and finally zimchang to end the cycle. It has been suggested that the best way to address the many social ills that afflict a country is to strike at the root of the problem.

Until a proper solution comes to light, strengthening implementation of existing remedies, such as stringently checking if dry-days are observed, scrutinising the identity of people visiting bars and creating awareness more aggressively and frequently would be a viable approach.