I see that my idea of legalizing pigs did not go well with my fellow Pakistanis. At least I tried. I was thinking we should discuss legalizing alcohol in Pakistan, as it is in many other Islamic nations.
Alcohol was legal in Pakistan until 1974 when Bhutto outlawed it under pressure from the Islamists. Now let’s not turn this discussion into purely a religious discussion, and look at it from a broader perspective.
No question that Alcohol is not allowed to be consumed under Islamic Law. But so many other laws are constantly ignored, why follow this one so strictly?
Among many benefits associated with alcohol, below is only a selected few:
A moderate amount of wine is actually beneficial for you for health reasons.
Legalizing alcohol in Pakistan will bring the drug addiction problem under control. I would rather live in a place with more Winos than with Junkies.
Legalizing alcohol will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and an influx of foreign capital to set up Wineries and Distilleries and Bars, and other peripheral business establishments. It will create an atmosphere of companionship and openness among people while downing a few in a Pub in Lahore. Imagine discussing Faiz’s poetry after a couple of doubly matured malt whisky (just imagine!). A few pints together of good English lager (at room temperature) will strengthen the bonds of friendship among classmates. A glass of Chardonnay with your spouse or girl/boy friend with an exquisite meal of yellowtail with ginger sauce and sauteed shrimps with basil and balsamic vinegar will take your mind off sex (at least while consuming the food). I am not a big fan of French wines, (I think California wines are just as good) but a good bottle of Beaujolais (year 1986 is my favorite) will make you appreciate a good book by Khushwant Singh.
Friends, lets face it, we have accepted and have integrated our fascination with alcohol into our life through using alcoholic metaphors into our poetry, into our music, and into our daily chores. For example, the most famous Pakistani Quwals have sang more songs about “drinking” than there are the species of birds. So why are we so hypocrites that we can’t accept this in our country?
It is time that we legalized alcohol, as it will only have more positive outcomes, in a trickle down mechanism. One road leads to many new avenues.
Here is one shair for you:
Kay Lahed maiN Bo-ay Mey thee, Jo na Aa skayy Frishtay
MaiN Azaab maiN paRa tha, jo na Mey-da khowar hota!
Translation for kids: It was the smell of alcohol in my grave that stopped Angels to come near me, I will be in hell was I not drunk. Wao!
Alcohol was legal in Pakistan until 1974 when Bhutto outlawed it under pressure from the Islamists. Now let’s not turn this discussion into purely a religious discussion, and look at it from a broader perspective.
No question that Alcohol is not allowed to be consumed under Islamic Law. But so many other laws are constantly ignored, why follow this one so strictly?
Among many benefits associated with alcohol, below is only a selected few:
A moderate amount of wine is actually beneficial for you for health reasons.
Legalizing alcohol in Pakistan will bring the drug addiction problem under control. I would rather live in a place with more Winos than with Junkies.
Legalizing alcohol will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and an influx of foreign capital to set up Wineries and Distilleries and Bars, and other peripheral business establishments. It will create an atmosphere of companionship and openness among people while downing a few in a Pub in Lahore. Imagine discussing Faiz’s poetry after a couple of doubly matured malt whisky (just imagine!). A few pints together of good English lager (at room temperature) will strengthen the bonds of friendship among classmates. A glass of Chardonnay with your spouse or girl/boy friend with an exquisite meal of yellowtail with ginger sauce and sauteed shrimps with basil and balsamic vinegar will take your mind off sex (at least while consuming the food). I am not a big fan of French wines, (I think California wines are just as good) but a good bottle of Beaujolais (year 1986 is my favorite) will make you appreciate a good book by Khushwant Singh.
Friends, lets face it, we have accepted and have integrated our fascination with alcohol into our life through using alcoholic metaphors into our poetry, into our music, and into our daily chores. For example, the most famous Pakistani Quwals have sang more songs about “drinking” than there are the species of birds. So why are we so hypocrites that we can’t accept this in our country?
It is time that we legalized alcohol, as it will only have more positive outcomes, in a trickle down mechanism. One road leads to many new avenues.
Here is one shair for you:
Kay Lahed maiN Bo-ay Mey thee, Jo na Aa skayy Frishtay
MaiN Azaab maiN paRa tha, jo na Mey-da khowar hota!
Translation for kids: It was the smell of alcohol in my grave that stopped Angels to come near me, I will be in hell was I not drunk. Wao!
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