FOURTH DIMENSION: Embrace no drinking culture

If there is one scripture that stirs up debate in both the Christian world and the secular world, it is the account of the first miracle Jesus performed as recorded in the gospel of John. “...... there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left…” Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” When the head steward tasted the water, it had been turned to wine.

This scripture stirs debate depending on the disposition of the people in regard to wine. Wine lovers go ahead to ask, if Jesus turned water into wine, then why would it be wrong to drink wine? The opponents of this outlook say that wine is the enemy of the people because of its effects to the users. The sharp wine users go ahead to indicate that Jesus also taught that we should love our enemies. In rebuttal of this argument, one preacher I know argues that “Jesus said love your enemies but never said we swallow them.” And the debate can go on and on forever.

Today, this debate has taken on a new turn with the police campaign against drink driving. One side is excited about the drive because of the anticipated results of compliance to this principle by all citizens. I call it a principle because the learned friends indicated that there is no such law that forbids people from drinking beer and driving. It will not be surprising when the rights activists also add their voice saying that this police campaign is an infringement of human rights. I want to think the opposition will quote this scripture from Proverbs 31:6-7: “Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;

let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.”
Whereas each side has strong points to bring to the table, the nation needs to choose what principles to uphold. Indulging in wine and strong drinks demands more responsibility from the users than is currently exhibited. This alleged human right, freedom and medicine for poverty does not provide solutions to the challenges the nation is faced with. It only complicates the social situation.

The poverty, distress and destruction of the livelihood of the people cannot be solved by stopping the police to deal with those who abuse the use of alcohol. We must all accept that taking strong drinks and driving is not modernisation. It is putting the lives of the people at risk.

There is need for all of us to rally behind the police campaign and make it a national culture not to drink and drive. This requires the human rights activists, legal framework and political masses to stand up in support of the police effort. It’s for our good to establish this principle as a normal way of living in Uganda. Paul, the Apostle makes this recommendation: “Therefore be very careful how you live - not as unwise but as wise,....And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,”