‘Pak Muslims addicted to liquor more than others’

Of the 1,560 intoxication cases detected by police and reported to the medico-legal office in the past five years, Muslims accounted for 92.89 per cent while people from other religions comprise 7.11 per cent, said a report in The Nation newspaper on M.

Nearly two per cent of the reported cases were of women. However, only 15 per cent of the alcoholics showed up for treatment at the medico-legal office.

The age-wise analysis of cases shows that even children aged between 10 and 15 years were consuming alcohol.

The highest number of cases — 42.56 per cent — involved teenagers and young adults between 16 and 25 years.

The incidence of consumption of liquor stood at 35 per cent between 26 and 35 years, at 15.32 percent between 36 years and 45 years, at 5.38 percent between 46 and 55 years and at 1.54 percent between 56 and 65 years.

Of the cases reported to the medico-legal office, 90.76 per cent had drank wine.

Haider said there was no breath analyser available for ascertaining the quantity of alcohol taken at any public hospital of Punjab province.

The Pakistan government introduced strict restrictions on the sale and consumption of liquor in 1977 and alcohol is sold only to non-Muslims possessing special permits through some 60 outlets across the country.