Kapata:Alcohol Should Be Taken As An Appetiser

African Parliamentarian on Human Rights focal person Michael Kaingu says alcohol can affect marriages.
And Jean Kapata says alcohol should be taken as an appetiser.
Kaingu said in an interview that careless drinking amongst men and women in Zambia was one of the major causes of marital problems.
“The high consumption of alcohol is what is leading to the violation of human rights and that is why we are seeing so many cases of child defilement, so many cases of child molestation, rape and just GBV in general. And careless drinking leads to failure by parents and guardians to look after or keep the family united. You fail to pay school fees for the children,” he said.
Kaingu said careless drinking was also a common trend among men in the country.
He added that careless drinking was not just affecting women, but men as well.
Kaingu added that careless drinking was a clear proof of stress caused by high poverty levels the country was experiencing.
“My assumption is that our women are under stress because of the severe poverty levels that our country is experiencing. That is why they have resorted to high alcohol consumption,” he said.
“Men should also be careful and refrain from careless drinking and I am not trying to condemn our women, but this is reality which is resulting from consequences of poverty. So careless drinking for women, drug abuse among the youth, I would attribute it to severe poverty. As for the youth, I feel there is over-socialising amongst them. That is why we are seeing them indulge carelessly in illicit behaviours,” he said.
Kaingu added that some songs that young people were keenly listening to had contributed to moral degradation in the society.
And PF chairperson for health Jean Kapata says calls by some people to abolish alcohol in bridal functions such as kitchen parties and wedding ceremonies would be an infringement on women’s rights.
“That statement is too strong against the women and to attribute that it is illness of women when it comes to careless drinking, I think it’s not being fair,” she said.
Kapata said women should be cautious when taking alcohol and refrain from careless drinking.
“I would just advise women to be cautious and not drink to a point where they cannot think anymore. You just drink beer as an appetiser and just drink when there is a cause,” she said.
“For me, I drink when there is a reason. When we are celebrating, I take a little bit of alcohol and its not harmful that way.”
Dr Manda yesterday said there was careless drinking among Zambian women and that women had lost their values.