TRENDS
Deadly fun
SARAH JOHN
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With alcohol consumption on the rise among youngsters , alarm bells are ringing in Germany.
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Beautiful Bavaria in southern Germany, nestling in the shadows of the Alps, attracts millions of visitors every year, one of the greatest attractions being the world’s biggest folk festival, the “Oktoberfest”. An estimated six million people storm into Munich every October by air, rail and road, to “let loose” and guzzle the light Bavarian beer by the litre. The picture of buxom damsels in Bavarian costumes carrying beer mugs by the dozen, and hefty men in leather-pants and Bavarian hats is legendary. What started off as an annual event in remembrance of the beautiful wedding celebration of Bavarian crown prince Ludwig in 1810, is now THE beer-festival of the world!
This year’s theme
The exceptionally cold weather, which began early in 2008, saw the number of visitors decline and sales in the stalls of traditional souvenirs as well as ice cream were down. Innovative stall-owners who boldly ventured to sell the favourite drink of the winter-and-Christmas season — Gluewine, which is a spicy wine drunk hot — sold well. The press and media saw their opportunity to scream about climate change, and weather became the theme of the year’s Oktoberfest.
Elsewhere, away from the Oktoberfest, healthcare experts, social workers and law-enforcing officials had other hot topics bothering them. With increasing alcohol consumption now involving the lower age-groups, they have been trying to ring alarm bells. The Germans are a hardworking people and work intensely during working hours. But, when it is over, they love to enjoy their free time, especially on weekends. Eating, drinking and dancing are favourites among them. Announcements such as “Eat all you want for €8.99” or “Flat rate” for Sunday brunch or lunch buffet or “Fixed-price Barbeque” are common in the ad columns of local newspapers.
Disturbing development
A recent but disturbing development from this trend is “flat rate parties”, enticing young people to get in for affordable prices and drink any amount of beer free in local joints. Reports of several incidents with emergency medical teams being called in and several youngsters ending up in alcohol-induced coma are slowly sinking into the consciences of the public, and this alarming trend is getting a bad reputation. The spokesperson for the federal government’s commission for drug-and-alcohol abuse revealed that in the seven years since statistics on this began to be compiled, there has been a 143 per cent increase in the number of children and youngsters (in the age-group 10-20 years) who are brought to hospital in a state of coma resulting from excessive alcohol consumption. In 2007 alone, 1942 girls in the age of 10-15 years were hospitalised for treatment for alcohol-induce coma.
Medical emergency services have been trying to create awareness of the dangers of over-drinking. According to them, the increasing trend is for young people to drink until they fall unconscious. The age of patients is as low as 14 years and many are unaware of the danger and totally unused to having alcohol in their system. Yet, it is considered “cool” to have a drink at parties. Both girls and boys reportedly venture to test their own limits and that of their peers at parties. Competitive drinking at parties is often reported, so is proving the upper limit of their capacity. In many cases, young patients are delivered at hospitals in a state of coma, and their parents called in. Road-accidents caused by drunken driving, a criminal offence under German law, are increasing in spite of strict vigilance.
Various social service-agencies (like the Caritas) have started to react to this trend. It is heartening to see reports of their new services for preventive work. Recognising the social nature of this problem, they are trying to create awareness in the industry as well as in commercial retail-outlets. Society as a whole has to be made aware of the need for role-models for the youth. An alcohol-addicted adult can hardly advise youngsters on the dangers of alcohol. Mentors and social workers are beginning to fan out to work among the youth.
Long-term effects
Young people have to learn about the physical dangers as well as the long-term effect of alcohol, which can destabilise their own future. It is no exaggeration to say that alcohol is poison to the nervous system. It is harmful for anyone, but more harmful for the young, whose brain is not yet fully grown. The poison of alcohol can inflict more harm on the not-yet-fully-developed brain. This is the long-term tragedy of youngsters getting hooked on alcohol.
In India today, where alcohol consumption is uncontrolled and accepted as a sign of social status, the dangers are unlimited. Emergency medical services are scarce and getting someone to the hospital in time is a near-impossibility. Is anyone seriously listening?
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