Thought prohibition reduces cases of drunk driving? Study concludes people drive a great distance to drink & drive back drunk

Submitted by maltmarch on Sat, 01/20/2007 - 11:52pm. ::




What are the popular tourist destinations for Gujaratis to go by road - prohibition free Mt. Abu, Daman & Diu and oddly enough - Saputara in Gujarat, which is on the border with Maharashtra so the bars are only a stone-throw away.   One hears of tourists, truck drivers, train passengers tanking up on their intake of alcohol before coming back to Gujarat (remember the time when airlines served alcohol on board, the rumor has it that they stopped because many passengers got drunk on the return flight to Gujarat).  While no statistics are readily available for Gujarat in terms of prohibitions' effect on drunk driving, a study of about 39,000 alcohol-related traffic accidents in the US state of Kentucky (between 1991 & 1997) found that residents of dry counties are more likely to be involved in such crashes, possibly because they have to drive farther from their homes to consume alcohol, thus increasing impaired driving exposure. The study concludes that county-level prohibition is not necessarily effective in improving highway safety.  For Gujarat, I would add that driving further to drink holds true just like it does in Kentucky - not to other counties but to farms, club houses, dhabas, highways, etc. where its a known fact the residents of cities in Gujarat escape to for "drinks", only to drive back much further in a dangerously intoxicated state.

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Maltlover
To celebrate is against the law in Gujarat & not in other state!
Submitted by Maltlover on Thu, 02/22/2007 - 5:11pm.

yes !!!! that is 100% correct statement. I am regular visitor to the island city - Diu. I just travel more that 500 kms to get into high spirits or to celebrate a victory in the business. I am an exporter & generate foriegn revenue for the country & the state. And this is what the country & state gives me in return. Sometimes I feel that i have done some sins in my previous birth as i have to live & earn my bread & butter in this state of Gujarat, . I go mad by the thought only that "to celebrate is against the law in Gujarat & not in other state of India". Neverthless, the state of Gujarat has given me money, culture, a good place & people to live with & above all a strong & visionary administrator like Shri Narendra Modi. But all that my cost of my enjoying life the way i want to. It has snatched my fundamental right to drink. So I would like to be a part of the revolution Malt March so that the coming generation of Youth of Gujarat may be able to celebrate their Victories & Achivements in a way that I as a youth could NOT do.....................

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cheers!!
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 02/20/2007 - 4:54pm.

hey the views and all the collection of data and research u have got is noteworthy and i fully agree to the protest.i stay in Surat and it is really frustrating that we dont have any discos or pubs and hence really miss on the night life like pune or mumbai... and all the mega events and concerts aswell as rock shows we miss everything ....i really pray to GOD to bless you with the strength to come out victorious like Mahatma Gandhi did and we will be there in your full support hail MALT MARCH... CHEERS !! GOD BLESS !.....Veer

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