This is why I heart Imran Khan. Because he gives a sh*t. He recently released this statement to the press in an endeavor to make clear his stand on this ludicrous hike in the drinking age in India. I fully support and agree with him that this will only add to the overwhelming corruption in our country. I’ll keep you posted as soon as he sets up his Facebook Page for the cause. xoxo
*Click here for his Power to Youth Facebook Page!
Imran Khan’s Statement:
I would like to state for the record that I do NOT endorse the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol can damage health, ruin careers and tear families apart if it is abused. I know this because I have seen it firsthand with friends and family. Nor am I motivated by selfish reasons; I am 28 years old, and free to consume alcohol if I choose. I am raising this debate on a personal level, not as a star. This is why I have chosen not to speak about it on a platform while promoting my film.
The reason I have taken this initiative is that I am troubled by a growing perception that young people need to be “handled” or “managed”. That we are incapable of making rational, informed decisions for ourselves. I cannot deny that we may be at least partially to blame for this; I have participated in campaigns encouraging young people to vote for the past two years, and the response has generally been quite disheartening. However, that is a discussion for another time. As members of a democratic society, it is our right, and sometimes our duty to stand up and ask if our government is doing the right thing.
The recent decision by the State Government to raise the legal drinking age from 21 to 25 is, in my opinion, illogical and counterproductive. I do not believe that this new law will stop under-25s from drinking. It will merely encourage them to purchase fake ID cards and to bribe officials if they are caught. It will increase corruption and give rise to a new breed of criminals; bootleggers. There will be absolutely no shortage in the amount of alcohol supplied to people under 25. All that will be accomplished is that we will have made criminals of 30% of our population, and nurtured a new black market trade of alcohol.
It is my opinion that this law is in violation of our Constitutional rights. At the age of 21, we are legally permitted to vote, to marry, have children, to enlist for military service, and if need be, to give our lives in defense of our country. If a person is an adult in the eyes of the government, they should be free to indulge in any legal activity of their choice, without concern for clauses and add-ons to the law. I am afraid that if we stand by and let this pass, we pave the way for any number of laws to curtail our liberties. What is to stop someone from proposing a limit on the number of children a couple can have, in order to manage our steadily-growing population?
We all have a tendency to complain about things without taking action, which is why I have decided to approach the courts and actually do something. They are mediators, and are in a position to judge the merit of my opinion. It is not my intention to antagonize anyone with disruptive means of protest, rather I hope to bring up this debate and resolve it in a productive way.