Source: The National,

A CONFERENCE is being organised next week to look into alcohol consumption and abuse in Papua New Guinea.
While we are happy this conference is going down, even if way overdue, we wonder at what might come out of it.
There is absolutely no doubt that alcohol abuse in Papua New Guinea is a killer, literally and metaphorically.
Just over the weekend, police reported that an intoxicated woman dragged a man to his death following a
two-day binge drinking session.
Drinking kills productivity and, therefore, affects the economic life of the country adversely as drunken people take unnecessary time off from work.
Drinking is the cause of many misery-filled lives, not the least of them being caused by domestic violence which is prevalent throughout PNG.
Let it be said: Many Papua New Guineans do not have it in them to control drinking or be responsible drinkers.
So, something has to be done – but what?
We do not believe that a conference is the answer.
Conferences should be held only to canvas diverse and differing opinions on issues in order to plot a collective way forward.
There are not differing opinions on alcohol consumption or the abuse of it in PNG.
People mostly agreed that it is a bad thing and the conference will no doubt bring out the worst aspects of drinking with all its gory details.
The way forward requires strong government policies and implementation of them, not conferences.
Remember the excellent gun summit of several years back?
The nationwide roadshow and the final summit in Goroka were well
attended.
A huge report was compiled with more than 200 recommendations on a way forward in the immediate, medium and long
term.
To this day, we have no idea what happened to this conference.
We fear a similar failure with the alcohol conference which will receive overwhelming attendance and alcohol abuse be given a rousing condemnation after which nothing will come of it.
We agree with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill that conferences are a waste of time.
Many people are professional conference and workshop attendees.
Others, particularly on overseas conferences, turn up for the opening sessions and absent themselves for the balance of the
time.
Yet, they do claim exorbitant allowances for participating at these conferences.
We prefer what has happened in Goroka this
week.
Governor Julie Soso has decided to tackle alcohol abuse in her province, but in a responsible fashion.
She has told alcohol sellers to upgrade their premises to proper club, motel or hotel status or face
closure.
She is urging consumers to behave responsibly and for police to crack the whip on abuse of alcohol by arresting those who are drunk and disorderly and having them clean up public amenities under tough supervision.
The new Jiwaka province introduced similar edicts earlier but we hear that the policy has been a flop with administration officials in hire cars fronting up at black markets for their daily alcohol intake.
What is required is for the national government to issue similar but more extensive policies on alcohol abuse.
There should be speed guns installed on our roads and breathalysers in constant use.
All drivers who exceed the blood-alcohol content limit should lose their licences for up to a year and repeated offenders should lose it for life.
Abusers should be given stiff penalties and community work is not a bad idea at all.
All alcohol-selling premises should be regulated and regularly inspected. Abusers should lose their licences.
Inspectors should have clout and the backing of government to punish offenders on the spot.
Again, it is a management issue.
The law is sufficient. It lacks implementation.
As with all things in PNG, that is the problem and it does not need a talk session to work it out.