Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai launches the golden jubilee celebrations of the Goa unit of Alcoholics Anonymous at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
With cases booked under drunken driving on the rise, along with fatal accidents, the Traffic Department has considered referring violators of drunken driving to Alcoholics Anonymous, similar to practices in foreign countries, to educate motorists on the ill effects of alcohol consumption.
Addressing the convention organised by Alcoholics Anonymous at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, to commemorate its golden jubilee in Goa, senior traffic officer, DySP Rajendra Prabhudesai, presented statistics from the last three years on fatal accidents, as well as cases booked under drunken driving in South Goa.
“In South Goa, the fatal accidents reported in 2023 were 162. The figure dropped to 135 in 2024. So far, South Goa has reported 10 fatal accidents this year. This shows that enforcement and education can help reduce fatalities,” he said.
He added: “The cases booked under drunken driving in South Goa were 1,280 in 2023. The figure rose to 2,683 cases in 2024. This year, we have registered 520 cases of drunken driving in the last two months.”
Prabhudesai said society does not view deaths from accidents and alcohol-related deaths equally. “If there are fatalities in an accident, it becomes national news. Deaths due to alcohol are not even reported,” he said.
“I have assured the doctors that the police will work on establishing coordination between AA and the local police, as in foreign countries, so that motorists found driving under the influence will be sent to the organisation for education,” he added.
In his address, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat posed a question to the audience: whether there can be happiness without alcohol. “Everybody wants happiness. But can’t there be happiness without alcohol? This is my fundamental question. Do you have to drink alcohol to find happiness?” he said, adding, “Many have tried to find happiness in alcohol before landing in trouble.”
Complimenting Goa AA for their yeoman service over the last 50 years, Kamat said the focus should be on education to bring about societal change.
In his address, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that prevention is better than cure. “I find myself in a strange place, though it is a very unique experience. I am like a fish out of water. As a legislator, I have at times espoused the cause of reducing excise duties on alcohol. As an elected representative, we have to address social issues,” he said.
Saying that Goa is a State known for fish, feni, and football, Sardesai acknowledged that alcoholism is a problem but expressed confidence that a progressive and forward-thinking society would address the issue and find a solution.
