Drinking Alcoholic Beverages -- The Sri Lankan Way.

Most people get drunk with alcohol
11/27/2013
By Jay Hettiarachchy

In Sri Lanka, drinking is considered as one of the vices a person should avoid; it is the fifth sin to refrain from according to Buddhist way of living -- සුරාමේරය මජ්ජපමා දඨ්ඨානා වේරමනී සික්ඛා පදං සමාදියාමී (Sura meraya majja pama datthana veramani sikkhpadam samadiyami: I take the precept to abstain from distilled and fermented liquor that causes intoxication and heedlessness).

Women in Sri Lanka rarely consume alcoholic beverages while most men habitually do. Nevertheless, in searching for a suitable marriage partner for their marriageable daughter, most Sri Lankan parents avoid selecting drinking men as possible future sons-in-law. Even social drinking is considered as an evil habit in Sri Lanka. The custom of considering drinking alcohol beverages as evil is associated with the belief that alcohol consumption by a man tends to ruin his family life as well as his work life. This is based on the general belief that intoxicants such as alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs cloud our minds and thus impair our ability to think and do things. Furthermore, when intoxicated, we are prone to transgress the other four Buddhist precepts  (the five precepts of Buddhism are to abstain from:1) destroying living beings 2) taking things not given 3)sexual misconduct 4) false speech (telling lies) 5) consuming alcoholic beverages).

Drinking is also considered to be addictive having a tendency to deplete the family resources. A drinking father is considered to set a bad example to his children. A father indulging in drinking most often tends to be abusive towards his wife and children; while he indulges in drinking most nights with his drinking buddies the wife and children of such a man most often go to bed in hunger (this happens in most poor countries that include most Asian countries).

Although the consumption of alcoholic beverages is not favorably considered by the Sri Lankan society as a whole, a large number of people, mostly males, consume alcoholic beverages either openly or in secret. However, the negative religious as well as social beliefs seem to set limits to the popularity and usage of alcoholic beverages in Sri Lanka.

There is no Hindu religious ban on the use of alcohol. Yet Hinduism recognizes that alcohol is a powerful substance that has dangers that should not be taken lightly. In Islam, consumption of any intoxicating alcohol beverages is generally forbidden in the Qur'an through several separate verses revealed at different times over a period of years. At first, it was forbidden for Muslims to attend prayers while intoxicated. Such strict rules were relaxed with the passage of time.

In the western world, however, where Christianity and its influence is predominant, consumption of alcoholic beverages is not considered altogether sinful or an evil habit. The Christian views on alcohol consumption are varied. Throughout the first 1,800 years of church history, Christians consumed alcoholic beverages as a common part of everyday life. Alcohol was considered as a gift from God that makes life more joyous, but overindulgence in drinking alcohol leading to drunkenness was considered as a sin.

A person has to be at least 18 years old to drink or buy alcoholic beverages in most western countries. Unfortunately, if those who violate this age limit rule, drink alcohol at home or in parties where alcohol is served, only the ones that drink alcohol are considered responsible for their behavior and/or acts. There is a strict rule making all colleges and universities as well as other educational institutions “dry zones” at least in the United States. However, most college students are initiated to drinking liquor during their college days with the independence and care-free life that they enjoy during their college years. Liquor vending and bars are lucrative businesses in college towns. Bar-hopping in the evenings and week-ends is an activity that most college students engage in their college days.

Why is the world so widely divided on consumption of alcohol?

Alcoholic beverages have been used by virtually all cultures through most of their recorded history. Most Asian countries where alcoholic drinks have been produced and consumed from the origin of mankind appear to perceive consumption of alcohol as an abominable and harmful act whereas most western countries in general do not have the same negative perception of alcohol consumption. However, there is no denial of the fact that all humans belonging to both eastern and western parts of the world from the known beginnings of their history were driven for intoxication. It is evident from the history of mankind that without exception all humans belonging to different cultures had a desire for liberation from the restrictions of mundane existence by experiencing altered states of consciousness. People also pursue them in various other ways than resorting to alcoholic beverages. Some follow the paths of prayer or meditation or yoga in their quest for spiritual insight, while others are transported to higher planes of consciousness by way of ecstasies induced by art, music, sexual passion or other intoxicating substances. Whatever the case may be, conventional wisdom seem to set limits to excessive consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating substances through social, cultural, and religious sanctions. The theme of this write-up – Sri Lankan attitudes towards alcohol consumption – is a case in point.

Although the western world apparently has a more positive take on alcohol consumption, most research done on alcohol consumption in the western world seem to indicate that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to human beings. Unfortunately, researchers seem to be coming up with contradictory conclusions on the effects of alcohol on humans. Understandably, alcohol production, similar to cigarette production is big business in the western world. Widely differing favorable opinions and conclusions by researchers whose projects are funded by big business is not an altogether a new phenomenon in the research world. Gobal alcoholic drinks industry which is expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2014, according to MarketLine is not an exception. Market volume of alcohol according to MarketLine is predicted to reach almost 210 billion liters in 2014, a 10% increase in five years. Beer, cider and flavored alcoholic beverages represent the leading market segment with over half of the overall market value. The EU represents almost 57% of the world alcoholic drinks market. (source:http://www.reportlinker.com/ci02014/Alcoholic-Drink.html)

Unlike in the east, the consumers are made responsible for their purchasing choices in the west. Alcohol vending and serving is controlled by alcohol permits and taxes by the local governments making sure that only legitimately produced alcohol is sold to the consumers. Alcohol related illnesses as well as behavioral issues are considered the sole responsibility of the consumer. This is a situation in which all parties concerned (the tax collectors, vendors, and consumers) seem to be happy until health, legal and other associated problems due to the excessive consumption of alcohol creep up in one’s life. It is considered his or her own fault that he or she has to deal with and no one else’s responsibility. In Sri Lanka, however, such a situation is considered the responsibility of the family and the loved ones, both before it happens and after (if it happens).