The Return of Alcoblow

 We've heard, oh so many times, the paraphrased notion that "a drinking nation is a failing nation", or something closer home. When Central Kenya was rated as the most drunk part of the country, we at least had a scapegoat to blame for the rising unemployment, domestic violence, love for crime, and emphasis of the nightlife over family.

The return of the Alcoblow knocks at our doors again and we ask: "Will it work this time?" The government has been keen on putting drink driving to bed but will the matter really stay asleep or sleep walk and still cause havoc.

So far 6 people have been arrested in Mombasa with charges of driving under the influence and putting the lives of Kenyans on the road at risk. An indicator of the government's initiative to make Alcoblow a nationwide phenomenon.

Medical gurus say alcoholism is a disease, a disease so bad that if not cured can bring a nation to its knees. Alcoholism has been linked to weight gain, eventual unemployment, infidelity and abuse. Factors that came to light thanks to a 2010 global survey courtesy of Reader's Digest, on the top reasons that would make one leave their spouse.

Alcohol has never been regarded as a full supporter of medical recovery with most doctors advising patients not to take their drugs with alcohol. However, taking alcohol in moderation is said to raise HDL, with red wine having antioxidants great for your skin. The problem with alcohol then scientists say lies in overdoing it hence explaining why ethanol in alcohol is behind your dry skin. In our attempts to detox our bodies back to health, alcohol remains the one thing we are asked to cut back on, together with fatty foods and carbs. In managing the stress that life brings on a daily basis we are asked to forgo binge drinking and opt for safer options like singing our hearts out and exercise, a quiet walk maybe? We could go on and on the prons and cons of alcohol but in combing out our way through the hair of a drinking nation, we need to identify why an alcoblow should exist in the first place.

The idea is to keep drunk drivers off the road but what happens to that wife who gets a beating every night the husband walks through the door; that teacher who just can't make it to class on Monday morning after a weekend spent on a drinking; that Campusarian who makes clubbing their academic study as 4 years just go by; youths slowly losing their vitality because of always being on a drinking spree. The alcoblow seems to only tackle one aspect of the problem and totally ignore the elephant in the room.  Raising tax levies for alcohol manufacturing companies is not the way to go as regulating alcohol consumption is a personal decision. Reverse psychology is a reality so that when you push people to do something, they go ahead and disappoint by doing the opposite. Regulating drinking hours at drinking joints is a no brainer as people will take the alcohol to their homes and the party still continues behind closed doors.

Brewing companies overtime contribute to the economy of the country, something that brings controversy as many question what this wealth really means to a nation. So we struggle to make money, get those big salaries then in one night we lose it all away in drinking. This in the face of unpaid school fees, lack of health insurance covers and other responsibilities that are left unattended.

We complain of unemployment and then when we get a job, yet we can't even keep it for a month because we are busy drinking so we lost it then point fingers at the government and say "tunaomba serikal".

Alcoholism is clearly having a toil on the health status of the nation and if not checked, we risk losing the next generation and affecting their vibrancy. Condemning them to a lifetime of visits to rehab facilities and AA meetings.

Is the alcoblow the only solution to a drinking nation?

Let's talk!