Alcohol menaces teens

Three per cent of boys and girls under-16 years in the country take alcohol, a trend that is worrying the society, including government, religious institutions and doctors.

Professor Gadi Kilonzo of the Psychiatric Department at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam says that a research conducted recently has shown that at least one in 100 pupils in primary schools and a similar ratio in secondary schools were taking alcohol. Teen drinking was more pronounced in urban areas where alcohol is easily accessible.

“Our nation is at risk. One per cent of pupils, who have picked the habit of drinking alcohol, is significant. Snifter should not be served to minors,” Prof Kilonzo added.
Another medical expert says drinking below the age of 18 is dangerous regardless of quantity taken.

“Any drinking of alcohol for a person below 18 years is considered harmful.” This is according to Dr Silvia Kaaya, head of Psychiatric Department of the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences.

Studies on underage drinking are limited in part because it is difficult to attract funding for such studies.

Anecdotal surveys conducted by the ‘Sunday News’ in Dar es Salaam and up-country on drinking showed that some started at the age of 12 while others at between six and seven.

The drinking and smoking behaviour, which is catching up with boys and girls from all classes of the society in urban and rural areas, has been attributed to easy access of drinks at the indiscriminately licensed selling points, some of which operate round the clock.

Other factors include lack of proper parental care, erosion of social, moral, religious, traditional values, easy access to liquor as it is sold indiscriminately at all joints.

When contacted for comment, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Methodius Kilaini, said that some parents are busy chasing money, forgetting their roles to their families.

“Morals of some parents have decayed. Some take their children to pubs or drinking joints. Such outings could influence children. Some parents do not encourage their children to go to pray or even to read the holy books,” he said.

The Attorney General, Mr John Mwanyika, said that according to the Intoxicating Liquors Act, “any licencee, who supplies intoxicating liquior to any person under the apparent age of 16 years, commits an offence.”

“Any licencee, who permits any person under the apparent age of 16 to remain on his licensed premises in any room, courtyard or other place in which intoxicating liquor is being served for consumption, commits an offence,” it says.

Reached for comment, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, Ms Maimuna Tarishi, said there was need to review the by-laws related to issuance of liquor licence, as well as enforcement aspect in a move to curb the noticeable drinking problem amongst youngsters.

She said that some parents take their kids as old as three years to boarding schools, including nursery, primary and secondary schools, and that denies parents time to spend time with them.

“In rural areas, some parents take longer hours at their farms and when they go back home they are tired. This applies to those in urban areas too. Parental love and care plays a big role in moulding a child. Not all get this from their parents,” she said.

The Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Mrs Salome Mbatia, said that the government was aware of the problem and a policy on child development was being drawn and such issues were part of it.

Commenting on the same issue, the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Mrs Mantumu Mahiza, said that proper methods of upbringing children have degenerated, hence such problem in the society.

Tanzania Standard