The government should ban teenagers from reckless clubbing and dangerous drinking
4 min readAll the States Governments and Abyei Administrative Area should ban teenagers from clubbing and drinking
By Awuol Gabriel Arok, Juba, South Sudan
January 13, 2018 (SSB) — South Sudan has a big plate to mend in a near future if nothing is done now, the style in which our teenagers of today carry out their daily activities is worrying, parents are not happy on how their children faultily picked up the social horns of modernization.
Indeed the hope and pride of every parent lie in children, they are the face of future continuity and as of today, teenagers’ activities and behaviors have raised the question of what citizenry South Sudan should have in the near future.
Tradition of our ancestors perceives children as the continuity of the lineage and as such putting them on the best social docket was everyone duty meant to ensure fine and respectful lineages and that was how social seeds were preserved in our Africa tradition, children were barred from eating and drinking certain kinds of food and drinks, think like smoking and alcohol were redlines for children.
Thanks to the Government of Gbudwe State for the order that banned children from attending nightclubs and alcohol consumption that was a reinforcement of last year order from Yambio, congratulations.
The Government of Yei River State last year issued the same order banning teenagers from clubbing and seriously warning clubs and hotels owners on the unethical exploitation of underages at their places, which I think is still under implementation obstacles.
Before I urge the rest of the States and Abyei Administrative Area to ban teenagers from clubbing and drinking, Gbudwe and Yei River States must fully implement the bans given for administrative gallantness and social mindfulness.
Other states of South Sudan should adopt the same thoughtful step taken by those two states, Juba and other Municipalities must come up with toughest laws on clubs, hotel and bars operations. Such laws must guide and warn the hotels, bars, and the clubs owners, organizers of events, parents and the teenagers on consequences of defying the orders by groups or individuals.
Arresting of teenagers found drinking in the bar, hotel or club together with the owner of the club, hotel or bar can drastically reduce the level at which the teenagers are presently drinking. Parents whose children attend night discos should also be questioned when their children are arrested and interrogated on how their children slip out of the house into discos at night.
Teenagers under the influence of alcohol have been victims of sexual harassment by falling into the uncaring hands of some reckless drunkards and at a time gravely abuse by those who claim to be their boy/girlfriends, this practices and some negatives consequences such as dropping out of school, early and unwanted pregnancies, contraction of disease, accidents and probably risks that involve loss of life need thorough social awareness among the teenagers.
Today it has become so common to found a considerable number of teenagers drunk during the occasions be it concerts, weddings, prayers and national celebrations that lifestyle is portraying an empty promise of hope for the country continuity, how healthy will our nation be if the highest percentage of teenagers attending any of the occasions are found visibly drunk?
Drinking has turned many teenagers into desperation and today majority of them has lost social respect towards their parents and elders and are actively putting their social energy on social media, drinks and swaging.
Juba City Council must come up with serious regulations that will govern the operations and activities of nightclubs, bars, and hotels within Juba City. Our children are offhandedly abusing their social freedom and are falling into the pit of despondency, noticing that use of drugs and alcohols by those who are psychologically immature has highest consequences of disease contractions, mental illness and social crimes among the children.
We must socially empower our teenagers for better tomorrow and the time is now.
Awuol Gabriel Arok, a Writer, and a Poet, has a Bachelor Degree in Social and Developmental Studies from the University of Juba, South Sudan, he is the author of the unpublished book ‘‘The Wisdom Horn’’ and an Initiator of ‘‘Your Tribe is My Tribe’’ and ‘‘Giving Heart Foundation’’ initiatives. He can be reached via his email Address: jjmkamzeearokson@yahoo.com
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