Daniel Lak's "Last orders, please" (# 57) presents a narrow view of the threatened ban on alcohol. I agree with him that banning alcohol is doomed to failure, but before commenting that the teetotal mission may be misplaced shouldn't we ask why women resort to alcohol bans in the first place? Millions of women, girls and boys the world over (including untold numbers in Nepal), are victims of alcohol-fuelled domestic violence. In a patriarchal society like Nepal the majority of women have no control over domestic resources, including cash income, purse strings are firmly held by men. Many poor men spend some of the little cash income earned on booze and cigarettes, instead of putting it towards much needed food, clothing and schooling for their families. Is it any wonder that women are collectively driven by desperation to drastic measures such as alcohol bans? Alcoholism is often a symptom of poverty. Raising women's subordinate status in the household and community, empowering them to share control of domestic and community development resources with men, will contribute far more to reducing poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence. I propose that "we foreigners, rich Kathmandu-wallahs and other elite types" think twice before we smugly "sip our chardonnay, our single malts after dinner.ban or no ban".

Michelle Moffatt
Sanepa