Maliha Mudasir
If alcohol and cigarettes are harmful, then why are they still legally sold in our country? Have we ever thought about it deeply? Why does all this happen? Why is this being sold right in front of our eyes? Why is our youth getting influenced? What is the point of banning something in words but still allowing it to be sold in reality? What is the use of conducting so many awareness programmes if people are still continuing the same thing?
Being a student, I have personally noticed that children who are involved in these activities consider themselves very “cool” and proudly flex it. Because of this habit, many other children also get influenced and slowly get addicted. Those who are not involved start thinking, “Why not me?” and by staying with such people, they develop a fear of being left behind, so they also begin to follow the same path. Meanwhile, those who are addicted are not only ruining themselves but also slowly affecting society.
This is not a cool trend or a matter of pride; it is a misleading habit and, in fact, a trap in which people knowingly fall and still call it “cool”. If all this is happening in our country, then how can we expect our nation to grow?
If such habits continue among the youth, then how can we expect future scientists and great personalities to emerge from our nation? Even big personalities clearly say that alcohol and drug intake is harmful, yet people still consider it cool. This is a shame for us.
Leaving youth aside, even in families where one person is addicted, the entire family gets affected, and even the next generation suffers.If parents or families themselves fail to guide their children properly, then what is the point? They should first reflect on themselves, because when we point fingers at others, we often forget that we too may be doing something wrong.
Teenagers go through many physical and mental changes, and during this phase, they easily get influenced by trends and surroundings. As a result, they start following such habits, and this creates a huge mess.
According to recent data, in India, lakhs and crores are generated every year from alcohol and tobacco. This is not a small thing; it is a massive industry. The tobacco market is also very large, with billions of cigarettes consumed every year. Even though it is just the third month of the year, a huge amount of sales has already taken place. This is not a joke—it raises a serious question: are we really trying to stop it, or just managing its impact? “Severe addiction often compels individuals to prioritize substances over basic survival needs like food. While awareness programs and slogans are common, they are largely ineffective because harmful substances remain easily accessible. To see real change, the focus must shift from mere education to the strict implementation and enforcement of regulations.”
The government does not completely ban these things; they are legal but regulated. Advertisements are restricted, warnings are displayed, and awareness programmes are conducted, but still, they are not fully banned. Even in places like Kashmir, these products are openly sold in markets, and no one says anything. Just imagine—if this is what we can see, then how much must be happening secretly, which we are not even aware of. Seeing all this, the youth gets influenced because these things are easily available. Even while selling, people often do not check who they are selling to—whether it is a 13 to 19 year-old child. Yet, the question still remains: why are they not banned?
The biggest reason is the heavy tax on these products, from which the government earns huge revenue. Obviously, when something provides such financial benefit, banning it becomes difficult. Even though people already pay taxes on almost everything it feels as if we are being taxed on every single aspect of life, almost like even breathing comes with a cost but the revenue generated from alcohol, drugs and cigarette is very high. The government also knows that people are addicted, so no matter how much the price increases, people will still buy it. In the end, the loss is entirely of the individual—both financially and in terms of health. Their family suffers, and gradually, the whole society is affected.
If these things are completely banned, then black markets may increase. However, the level of addiction is so high that even if a person does not have food, they may still choose alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes over basic needs. Day by day, consumption is increasing, and this creates a contradiction between what is promoted and what is practiced. So, there is no real point in just putting up banners, conducting awareness programs, and using big slogans when these things are still easily available.
Awareness alone is not enough; strict implementation of rules is necessary. Proper age checking should be ensured, especially near schools and colleges, where such sales should be completely restricted. Peer pressure plays a major role in spreading this addiction, so it is important that youth focus on developing skills that will benefit them in the future. We cannot just blame the government, because real change begins with individuals. So, we must stop calling it “cool” and stop this cycle of peer pressure. The real danger is not the bottle or the smoke, but how easily we have learned to ignore it. And in the end, it is not just the system that fails us, but the choices we keep justifying and the mindset we continue to carry.
(The author is a class 10 student. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
