A few members of the National Council recommended the need to come up with an act to control abuse of alcohol in yesterday’s session. This recommendation was made while the house deliberated on the Good Governance committee’s recommendation of making Bhutan Narcotic Control Authority (BNCA) an overall agency to spearhead measures to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
The committee’s review report highlights that establishment of a dedicated agency was foreseen in the National Policy and Strategic Framework to reduce harmful use of alcohol, 2015-2020. But the framework faced implementation challenges. Therefore the committee recommended identifying BNCA as the overall agency with board mandates.
A few of the board mandates include providing national level stewardship in addressing alcohol-related problems through innovative, practical, and timely interventions, strengthen and promote effective coordination among implementing agencies and conduct a periodic impact assessment of the interventions to develop sustainable measures.
However, some members said more than a dedicated agency; an act should be enacted to address the issue.
“We feel it is important to have an Act related to control harmful use of alcohol. No matter whatever policy we frame it will be of no use if there is no Act to support it. Ultimately, we will not be able to reduce problems related to alcohol,” Gasa MP Dorji Khandu said.
“As suggested by the committee, if we are to establish an authority or an institute to tackle issues related to harmful use of alcohol, then we have to bring in an Act related to it as well. The Act will help the authority to work more efficiently. If there is no Act, the authority will not be able to carry out their responsibilities properly,” Haa MP Ugyen Namgay said.
The committee chairperson, the Eminent Member Tashi Wangmo informed the house that the committee will look into whether to include the recommendation for a new act during the internal committee meeting.
