Other news from Nepal

[thesilvertops]

On the day of the air crash there were a couple of other items of news from Nepal:

The King of Mustang is no more along with 3 other minor kings. The Mustangi Raja was called in to Kathmandu and told by a maoist minister that he is now an ordinary citizen. The end of an era!

The maoist government has also announced a crackdown on the manufacture and sale of alcohol as it believes the breakdown in law and order is due to excessive drinking. Strange that as I thought it was the maoists who introduced cohercion, protection rackets, kidnappings, beatings, murder, theft of property and land, etc., to the once very law-abiding Nepalis.

Briefly, all establshments selling alcohol must clear their stocks over the next few weeks. After that, only registered establishments will be able to sell alcohol during limited hours. The age limit for drinking is also being reviewed. Any Nepali then wishing to buy alcohol must give his name, his father's name, his grandfather's name and show his citizenship certificate. The government is also looking at alcohol production on a local level, i.e. at home, in the village, with a view to controlling that!!!

[Suginami]

Good now they can go back to pot and less dangerous things. Alcohol in developing countries can have a devastating effect as I witnessed in Sri Lanka and India. As incomes go up then the urge to get smashed drunk seems to increase. You must have seen the awful drunks in Nepal loaded on rakshi and other things. But, I guess restrictions could lead to more production of illegal stuff as in India where there have been some awful deaths.
Too bad pot is so vilified. The vile Bush government offers lots of money to wipe it out. I heard that the pot producing area in Nepal is still dangerous to go to. Birders don't got there.

[thesilvertops]

Not just in developing countries either. Alcohol is a problem in the UK as well. Some bright sparks thought that Britain needed to be more cosmipolitan and that that meant drinking all day. I well remember a Nottingham councillor saying on TV how their plans would make Nottingham much more cosmipolitan. Well, it's the crime capital of the UK now! There's too much alcohol available, it's too cheap and we have this culture that says "keep pouring it down your neck" The cost in terms of the public services - police, ambulance, hospitals,etc., - and in terms of broken lives, is tremendous. An awful waste of limited resources.

[Landfall38]

Hmmm, I'm not sure I know my grandfather's name.... Does that mean I won't be able to get a beer in Thamel of Pokhara? :eek:

Reminds me of what a serious pain it is to get a cold beer in Cochin (Kerala)!:mad:

[Suginami]

Nottingham? I am so out of touch all I can remember is a wonderful pub stuck in the bum of the castle, The Trip? and a lovely city. Brits seem to react in a funny way to alcohol. Maybe they have different enzymes to other people ( ha ha ).

When i first went to Nepal drinking beer was considered rather vulgar. I remember streets full of amazing pie shops and lots of people loaded. Great ambience. Elephants in Durbar Square, even.

Just confirmed my ticket with a fat surcharge!!