I wonder, why is the ability to consume alcohol being made to appear so important in the process of growing up? What amuses me is that no such debates happen when an education policy is being tampered with or about issues that are essential for the development of our youth. Further, it is really sad to note that even many well-educated persons allege that by this measure the Government seeks to control our lives. I fail to understand why waiting four more years to legally consume alcohol should become such a great punishment for our youth? Like air, water and nourishment, is alcohol essential for growth?

I am very perplexed, why is consumption of alcohol being made out to be so glamorous? I have read scientific studies that say that alcohol addiction happens more frequently amongst those who begin drinking in their teens or earlier. I have witnessed the tragedy of alcohol destroying young promising lives. Not many people, young or old, are able to deal responsibly when it comes to alcohol consumption.

Yes, there is tremendous peer pressure to be 'grown up' and to be 'cool'. Many a times I have come across parents who push drinks on their young children saying 'we are confident that our children are responsible'. How can one be responsible with something that is known to be addictive; something that impairs one's ability to think and makes one lose control of one's senses? Peer pressure and the euphoria of the occasion are not conducive to responsibility. I have witnessed many soirees that degenerate into drinking contests and teenagers end up drinking much in excess without realizing, just to be the last one standing and be victorious amongst their peers. In my youth, binge drinking was a boy's style but today young girls abuse alcohol much more than their male peers and many a times it is done just to show off!

I am not a moral police, but I think all those responsible people of our society and all those celebrities who set trends for our youth are doing a great disservice by making flippant comments on a very critical subject. Waiting four more years to be able to legally consume alcohol will not kill anyone, but the four years from 21 to 25 are definitely enough to snuff out many lives. Many terrible accidents have occurred because young people were driving under the influence of alcohol.

A responsible campaign needs to be carried out amongst our teenagers, who are entering a very impressionable age, about the dangers of addiction whether of cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. Unwittingly, due to the influence of media, many think alcohol and experiment with party drugs are cool and is all right as long as one is responsible. The fact is neither alcohol nor drugs is something that is worth experimenting with just as one does not experiment with poison. Remember those who try to convince you that alcohol is cool are not your friends.

On a very frank note, I would say the measure to rise the legal age for drinking may not be a sincere step by the Government of Maharashtra but the hue and cry raised by civil society is dangerous and irresponsible and must be condemned in strong terms.

Youth is the time when one develops one's intellect, abilities, character, and personality and prepares to face the challenges of life. Alcohol helps in neither of these pursuits. There is a lot of life left post-25 to enjoy alcohol. I am past fifty. I don't drink. It hasn't killed me. Believe me, being stone cold and sober all my life, I am still a very 'cool dude'.