Karachi Police set to acquire breathalysers amid growing drunk driving incidents

[MenInG]

KARACHI: For the first time in its history, Karachi Traffic Police is set to buy breathalysers to check alcoholism in suspicious drivers amid a rising number of drunk driving accidents that have caused many fatalities in the city.

DSP Saeed Arain, an administrative officer at the DIG Traffic Police Office, said a tender had already been floated for the breathalyser kits and the purchase will be finalised after approval from the procurement department.

In the first phase, at least 90 breathalysers would be acquired and provided to personnel deployed in different parts of Karachi.

Currently, policemen use conventional methods to determine whether the driver is under the influence of alcohol or not. The suspected drivers are taken to government hospitals where the medico-legal team conducts tests.

However, DSP Arain said this old-fashioned way left room for doubt as alcohol does not show in the tests after some time and the suspects use delaying tactics to ensure a negative report.

“But, with the help of new technology, the police would be able to test drivers on the spot and issue challan or arrest them,” he added.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/327058-ka...lysers-amid-growing-drunken-driving-incidents

 

[Local.Dada]

I would be more concerned where these guys are getting their liquor from. Isn’t alcohol banned in Pakistan? Sure some elite may have access to good brands but scary what kind of cheap and unsafe liquor the common person is getting his hands on if it has become a problem.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

It’s almost 2021 and one of the largest cities in the world is only now introducing breathalysers?

 

[Pakpak]

It’s almost 2021 and one of the largest cities in the world is only now introducing breathalysers?

Because alcohol is officially not allowed for most of the population, so acknowledging there is a drinking problem would cause backlash against any government

 

[Saj]

I guess some of these drunks are the type who scold others for celebrating Christmas.

Oh the hypocrisy.

 

[Belawal2014]

I guess some of these drunks are the type who scold others for celebrating Christmas.

Oh the hypocrisy.

Sada Islam, Islam. Tuhada Islam, Haram.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Going to reiterate what I said in the other thread about the crazy drunk woman. This country has a terrible drinking problem

 

[Saj]

Going to reiterate what I said in the other thread about the crazy drunk woman. This country is a terrible drinking problem

How is the alcohol available? Imported?

 

[offstump]

There is a drinking problem in Pakistan we just choose not to talk about it. Couple that with no awareness regarding drunk driving and it’s a recipe for disaster and needless death.

Saj, if you want something in Pakistan you can get it. Alcohol is either imported illegally, bootlegged and of course there is the esteemed
Murree Brewery, Pakistan’s largest.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

How is the alcohol available? Imported?

Mostly imported but very easily available

 

[Bewal Express]

My brother was offered cans of lager in PK, he has never touched the mutar here, he found it funny that he was offered it in PK.

 

[Giannis]

Going to reiterate what I said in the other thread about the crazy drunk woman. This country has a terrible drinking problem

There is a drinking problem in Pakistan we just choose not to talk about it. Couple that with no awareness regarding drunk driving and it’s a recipe for disaster and needless death.

Saj, if you want something in Pakistan you can get it. Alcohol is either imported illegally, bootlegged and of course there is the esteemed
Murree Brewery, Pakistan’s largest.

Because alcohol is officially not allowed for most of the population, so acknowledging there is a drinking problem would cause backlash against any government

The alcohol "problem" seems over exaggerated. Just cause there are small numbers of people in some sections of society that do drink while socializing and some might even binge drink, I wouldn't call that a drinking problem. If you have a drinking problem then you're an alcoholic but if you're using Pakistani standards then literally every college student in North America and soccer fans in Europe would be considered "alcoholics", literally every drinks a lot in the west but that doesn't qualify as a drinking problem and certainly not the minuscule amounts that a minority of Pakistanis drink.

Alcoholism is considered a pandemic in countries like Russia where a large number of their population has died from it, how many people in Pakistan die every year from alcoholism and related diseases? How many Pakistanis know anyone in their extended family that has a "drinking problem" I'm sure most of us don't except for probably a few people and that too maybe like one relative. It's not like Pakistan is like Japan where you see several drunk people throwing up on the streets, men in business suits falling over in subways and peeing themselves. By Pakistani standards the whole world is suffering from a drinking problem lol.

 

[Giannis]

There is no data that supports the theory that there is a "drinking problem" in Pakistan, alcohol-related illnesses in Pakistan and in the Pakistani diaspora are not at such high levels to come to that conclusion and anecdotally I know most here do not know of relatives that are alcoholics, there are outliers in every group so I'm sure someone might disagree with me and bring up their best friends uncle's mistresses part time driver that is an alcoholic.

 

[Giannis]

I would be more concerned where these guys are getting their liquor from. Isn’t alcohol banned in Pakistan? Sure some elite may have access to good brands but scary what kind of cheap and unsafe liquor the common person is getting his hands on if it has become a problem.

Non-Muslims are allowed to drink

 

[uberkoen]

I would be more concerned where these guys are getting their liquor from. Isn’t alcohol banned in Pakistan? Sure some elite may have access to good brands but scary what kind of cheap and unsafe liquor the common person is getting his hands on if it has become a problem.

Alcohol isn't banned in Pakistan

 

[uberkoen]

How is the alcohol available? Imported?

Imported as well as locally manufactured.

 

[uberkoen]

There is no data that supports the theory that there is a "drinking problem" in Pakistan, alcohol-related illnesses in Pakistan and in the Pakistani diaspora are not at such high levels to come to that conclusion and anecdotally I know most here do not know of relatives that are alcoholics, there are outliers in every group so I'm sure someone might disagree with me and bring up their best friends uncle's mistresses part time driver that is an alcoholic.

This is 100% correct.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

How is the alcohol available? Imported?

Besides being imported, Murree Brewery which has a distillery near my home manufactures it.

 

[James Steven]

There isn't any drinking problem in Pakistan currently. Only rich people can afford it. Poor non-Muslims drink it too but that's a very small minority. In my opinion, Alcohol should be legalized in Pakistan to attract foreign tourists and companies too. Murree Brewery has the potential to become one of the best beverages companies in the world.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The alcohol "problem" seems over exaggerated. Just cause there are small numbers of people in some sections of society that do drink while socializing and some might even binge drink, I wouldn't call that a drinking problem. If you have a drinking problem then you're an alcoholic but if you're using Pakistani standards then literally every college student in North America and soccer fans in Europe would be considered "alcoholics", literally every drinks a lot in the west but that doesn't qualify as a drinking problem and certainly not the minuscule amounts that a minority of Pakistanis drink.

Alcoholism is considered a pandemic in countries like Russia where a large number of their population has died from it, how many people in Pakistan die every year from alcoholism and related diseases? How many Pakistanis know anyone in their extended family that has a "drinking problem" I'm sure most of us don't except for probably a few people and that too maybe like one relative. It's not like Pakistan is like Japan where you see several drunk people throwing up on the streets, men in business suits falling over in subways and peeing themselves. By Pakistani standards the whole world is suffering from a drinking problem lol.

LOL at the drinking problem part.

All the drunkards usually happen to be elite-class embarrassments which make up a very small minority of the population. For the masses getting access to alcohol is a challenging and dangerous prospect that can just as easily land them in jail or in the hospital if they end up buying moonshine.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Going to reiterate what I said in the other thread about the crazy drunk woman. This country has a terrible drinking problem

Not really.

 

[uberkoen]

LOL at the drinking problem part.

All the drunkards usually happen to be elite-class embarrassments which make up a very small minority of the population. For the masses getting access to alcohol is a challenging and dangerous prospect that can just as easily land them in jail or in the hospital if they end up buying moonshine.

moonshine is pretty common actually and rather easily available but the quality is horrible and people have died from it. It's called a cuppi in Pakistan because they put a funnel on a plastic bag and close it tightly with a rubber band with the alcohol inside the plastic bag.

 

[DeadBall]

I would be more concerned where these guys are getting their liquor from. Isn’t alcohol banned in Pakistan? Sure some elite may have access to good brands but scary what kind of cheap and unsafe liquor the common person is getting his hands on if it has become a problem.

Liquor is easily available from many outlets in Karachi in most areas. Only time they are closed is during Ramadan and beginning of Muharram or any other religious holidays. The one I used to frequent was in the commercial hub in Gulistan e Jauhar between a Bata (number one footwear selling brand) and one of the popular Agha Juice centers. You can see hundreds of people going in and out during the evenings but there is the stigma of Bata aunties sniggering or shaking their heads at the black plastic bags, chosen for some weird reason since they are even more conspicuous than normal coloured bags but this is a typical trait of people trying to be smarter than they really think they are.

If you do not want the black bag walk of shame back to your place you can always order home/location delivery for an extra 20/30 Rs (2010-2014 prices). Most of the alcohol sold in this place is locally made in Murree as most people won't be able to afford the known brands which are usually sold in the high end places like DHA etc or more so in the black market.

In the high end legal places from what I've heard is they have many bought non muslim shanakhti card numbers at hand to balance the books just in case and no body really cares about the godaams in the lesser areas.

All in all the quality is not bad either and the Murree beer is quite good actually. Not many instances of unregulated alcohol though, have read a few stories about people dying, blinded etc in India due to alcohol poisoning but I suppose its just due to supply and demand.

 

[Pakpak]

Not relevant but I remember the police motorcycles outside the Christian colony every night trying to sneak off and buy alcohol. Always made me laugh

 

[anonymous_guy]

If alcohol is so common in Pakistan, the Pakistan government should make alcohol legal and tax it heavily.

With alcohol being banned people muct be buying it from the black market by paying a lot of money to the shady businesses, instead Pakistan could earn a huge amount from the taxes.

Just an example of how much money alcohol could bring in:-
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/how-india-binges-on-its-booze-economy-11589392012055.html

"The reasons are obvious: India’s states, put together, earned about ₹2.25 trillion from taxes on alcohol in the most recent fiscal year."

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Not really.

[MENTION=150563]Giannis[/MENTION] I’ve been messing around on tinder (before the ban) and bumble since I got back here in March and every 2nd girl is into drinking or getting high. Most of them extremely uninteresting and after I tell them that you rely on that stuff because your own personality is completely dull, they say I’m being judgemental. So there’s something to be said about factual evidence, stats etc but in a country like Pakistan that stuff isn’t too reliable. First hand experience is also important. The unproductivity of most of the youth over here leads them to pursue stuff like that. Just to be clear, I don’t drink but most of my friends in Canada do and I’m completely fine with that. It’s just that young people in Pakistan are either hypocrites about it or make that drugs and alcohol integral parts of their already unproductive lives.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

[MENTION=150563]Giannis[/MENTION] I’ve been messing around on tinder (before the ban) and bumble since I got back here in March and every 2nd girl is into drinking or getting high. Most of them extremely uninteresting and after I tell them that you rely on that stuff because your own personality is completely dull, they say I’m being judgemental. So there’s something to be said about factual evidence, stats etc but in a country like Pakistan that stuff isn’t too reliable. First hand experience is also important. The unproductivity of most of the youth over here leads them to pursue stuff like that. Just to be clear, I don’t drink but most of my friends in Canada do and I’m completely fine with that. It’s just that young people in Pakistan are either hypocrites about it or make that drugs and alcohol integral parts of their already unproductive lives.

Quite a strange thing to say to someone you just met on a dating app. I too would be offended if someone I recently met started passing judgments on my personality. Only people close to you have the right to pass opinions like these.

Alot of people are just trying to cope from the painful realties in their lives. Others do it just because its fun and you are only young for so long. And drinking, marijuana is not destructive as long as it is done responsibly. Doesn't mean that the people that do them are necessarily boring or dull people. For one thing, you have to actually know someone properly to make such direct judgment calls on their personality.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If alcohol is so common in Pakistan, the Pakistan government should make alcohol legal and tax it heavily.

With alcohol being banned people muct be buying it from the black market by paying a lot of money to the shady businesses, instead Pakistan could earn a huge amount from the taxes.

Just an example of how much money alcohol could bring in:-
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/how-india-binges-on-its-booze-economy-11589392012055.html

"The reasons are obvious: India’s states, put together, earned about ₹2.25 trillion from taxes on alcohol in the most recent fiscal year."

You are talking about rationality. Whereas people here are driven by ideology. Simply put, rationality does not have a chance.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

moonshine is pretty common actually and rather easily available but the quality is horrible and people have died from it. It's called a cuppi in Pakistan because they put a funnel on a plastic bag and close it tightly with a rubber band with the alcohol inside the plastic bag.

I know. What you are speaking of is common. But also common is moonshine sold in old bottles. Common people are often duped into thinking they are buying authentic alcohol when in reality they are just buying moonshine which either lands them in a hospital (if they are lucky) or their grave.

Ultimately every law in Pakistan hurts the poor. The rich operate with impunity. No matter what they do, they get away with it

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

It’s almost 2021 and one of the largest cities in the world is only now introducing breathalysers?

I would think the use of internet and social media will have exploded substance abuse among the population in the last couple of decades, whereas previously many will have lived lives of relative ignorance, now every lifestyle is on show and it would be shortsighted to think drink and drugs would be an exception.

 

[TSA321]

There is no data that supports the theory that there is a "drinking problem" in Pakistan, alcohol-related illnesses in Pakistan and in the Pakistani diaspora are not at such high levels to come to that conclusion and anecdotally I know most here do not know of relatives that are alcoholics, there are outliers in every group so I'm sure someone might disagree with me and bring up their best friends uncle's mistresses part time driver that is an alcoholic.

Correct, and several stats/indicators point towards Pakistan being in the top 3 for lowest alcohol consumption per capita in the world.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Uncles and Aunties don’t really have the exposure to how things really are

 

[Third_Umpire]

There’s a drinking problem in Pakistan for only those that are looking for that problem, ie Mullah jihadi type mentality.

A small minority of Pakistanis drink, whether it’s for religious reasons or because of lack of availability (though it’s becoming more and more available off late). Where it is available you have to be in the “know” and then be able to afford it. Unless you’re ok drinking moonshine which villagers make and do.

On the OP, good to have breathalyzer though I worry about the punishment for drunk driving. If it’s a DUI type punishment, fine. But if it becomes vigilante mob justice, then that’s a problem.

 

[MenInG]

Benefits of not drinking alcohol

Giving up drinking has a wide range of great benefits to our physical and mental health, some of which are named above. Here’s an extensive list of the benefits of not drinking in the long-term:

Your quality of sleep will increase. The two most important cycles of sleep – rapid eye movement (REM) and slow wave sleep - will be less disrupted, leaving you feeling brighter and more alert each morning

Your mood and levels of concentration will improve. This stems from having more energy and less fatigue, helping you be more productive at work or at home

You’ll be better hydrated, leading to a whole host of benefits. Headaches and having a dry mouth will decrease, skin will feel more radiant, and dark circles around your eyes will lessen

Your memory will begin to improve. Alcohol is proven to hinder the part of your brain that deals with memory (the hippocampus)

You’ll find it easier to lose weight. Alcohol slows your metabolism, making it harder for your body to process fats and sugar. Alcohol also has a high calorie count (approximately 160 calories for a medium glass of red wine, 210 or more in a pint of beer) and many of the mixers we enjoy with spirits, like vodka or gin, are high in sugar. You’ll also be less likely to have late night, fast food binges than you would after you’ve been drinking alcohol

Your stomach will feel better. Symptoms such as indigestion and acid reflux can be caused by alcohol irritating your digestive system. You’ll also be better able to absorb nutrients and store vitamins and minerals

Your skin health will improve. Alcohol can cause red and blotchy or puffy skin. Alcohol-free skin is better hydrated, removing these problems and reducing dry patches that can inflame conditions like eczema

You’ll reduce your blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to alcohol consumption, and this is known to be one of the main causes of heart disease

Your liver will be healthier. Over time, your liver fat levels will reduce. Good liver health also contributes to the quality of our skin
Summary

Across the month, your body is likely to have benefitted greatly from giving up alcohol. Better hydration and improved sleep will have increased your productivity and daily wellbeing. Your liver, stomach and skin will also have benefitted from not dealing with alcohol. You will also have reduced your calorie intake by 3840 for the month, if you used to drink six glasses of 175ml wine a week, or 4320 calories over the month if you used to drink six pints of lager a week.

https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/be...e skin is better,Your liver will be healthier.