Sopore, May 11: BJP Jammu and Kashmir General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul on Monday said alcohol and drug abuse could not be curbed through legislation alone and stressed the need for public awareness campaigns to tackle the issue.
Speaking to reporters, Koul, as per KNS, said governments across different places had tried to control alcohol consumption through legal measures, but such steps alone had failed to fully address the problem.
“There should be awareness to stop consumption of alcohol and drugs. No government can completely stop people from consuming alcohol through laws alone. In places where such laws were enforced, the situation became worse,” he said.
Koul also backed the remarks made by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the challenge of alcohol abuse could not be addressed only through legislation.
Referring to remarks made by minister Sakina Itoo on the anti-drug campaign, Koul said the drive against narcotics had first started in Jammu and was later extended to Kashmir.
He said the campaign should not be linked to religion and maintained that the action was aimed at preventing the spread of drugs among youth.
“It is necessary. If such action is not taken, how will it stop? Those involved will not fear the law and they will destroy our future,” he said.
Koul said strict action against people involved in the narcotics trade was necessary to prevent drug abuse and protect society from its impact.
