Alcohol misuse destroys dreams

TAUNO HAUFIKUFormer President Hifikepunye Pohamba warned the youth by saying, “I feel as a leader, I should not be a leader of drunkards.” President Hage Geingob equally condemned the embarrassment of having a drunkard nation and even re-crafted the law to restrict selling of alcohol on public holidays and Sundays for the benefit of the populace.Now the onus is on the youth to choose, either to become a drunken nation or a responsible nation. The dangers of alcohol outweigh the benefits.Alcohol abuse manifests in many ways. I have had sufficient observation of the capability of alcohol to metamorphose young people, many of whom fail to detect a problem until they reach a stage of irreversible deterioration. Alcohol misuse destroys personal goals, personal development and productivity.Drunkenness leads to poor personal and domestic hygiene, and sadly their behaviour is also unhygienic because they lack time to tidy up as most of their hours are spent on alcohol. Alcoholism leads to the destruction of relationships, families and marriages because drinkers start preferring the company of drinking companions to their own families. They start going astray and shun the advice of those trying to help them; they start becoming bitter and frustrated when children ask for food. Hence, they resort to spending most of their times at bars as a defence mechanism.Another very disturbing outcome of alcohol abuse is domestic violence. Individuals under the influence of alcohol abuse their partners day and night. Go to the police stations and hospital casualty wards every Saturday morning and you are likely to spot them there: bloodshed in the name of alcohol.Alcohol exacerbates poverty among the youth, as they are distracted by alcohol which leads to them failing at school and losing hope in trying to find work. Moreover, young people who become blinded by alcohol stay in a constant state of slumber, unable to spot or grab opportunities.Alcohol plunges young people into the pool of venereal diseases through recklessness and not caring who they go to bed with.The ultimate manifestation of alcohol misuse is death. Therefore, choose not to be a victim of alcohol misuse. Never dive into the ditch of alcohol. We, the youth, are now in charge of our country as the older generation hands over the the baton. How could we take that baton with tremors in our hands? When you do drink alcohol, do it responsibly in small amounts so that you can focus on realising your dreams.* Tauno Haufiku is a registered nurse in the ministry of health and social services. He writes in his capacity as a citizen.

Alcohol misuse destroys dreams

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-15

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Alcohol misuse destroys dreams

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-15

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