ALCOHOL abuse especially among adults and youths has become rampant such that it has given rise to various cases of gender-based violence, rape and crime, among other vices.
These cases seem to be increasing every year and have become a common feature during the festive season when many people indulge in excessive beer drinking and drug abuse, mainly among the youth.
It is during this time of the year that police cells all over the country are filled to the brim with a high number of culprits involved in various festive season crimes.
It is also at this time that the nation records a high number of road traffic accidents and deaths due to reckless driving under the influence of alcohol by some public transport drivers, and drunkenness
by some pedestrians and cyclists.
Apart from that, this is the time when most criminals are at work, breaking into people’s houses, attacking innocent people and stealing items such as money and motor vehicles.
Parents at this time of the year also face challenges in guiding their children who indulge in vices such as heavy drinking, fighting, drug abuse and rape.
According to the 2015 statistics, the country recorded 2,089 juvenile convictions for various offences ranging from assault, rape and theft, to drunk and disorderly conduct as compared to the 2,029 convictions in 2014.
This shows an increase of 60 cases, representing a percentage upsurge of 2.87 per cent.
The festive season indeed brings about moments of joy and sadness and, as such, it is prudent upon people to be more cautious to preserve their lives so that they can enter the New Year in peace and not in pieces.
Police Inspector-General Kakoma Kanganja’s warning in his Christmas message to the nation yesterday is, therefore, timely and should be taken more seriously by all the stakeholders and citizens.
On the other hand, police should endeavour to increase night patrols during the festive season, especially in townships where crime and other vices seem to be more prevalent.
In addition, the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) should be on hand with breathalysers to check on motorists who drink while driving to help reduce the number of road traffic accidents.
The Government should also mobilise more resources to cater for logistics such as transport and other communication means for officers to help curb crime and other clandestine activities that might disturb the peace of the nation during this festive period when the majority will be at their various churches worshiping GOD.
The challenge is, however, more for the police to ensure that all is in place to make their operations more manageable and help reduce the number of convictions for various crimes in 2016.