We talk about violence. We talk about abuse. The things women endure, whether in the silence of their homes or the chaos of public spaces, are often enough to break a person. Yet, the focus is always on the acts themselves, the physical scars, the emotional turmoil, the legal battles, the injustices. But have we ever stopped to ask, what’s behind it? What’s feeding the violence that takes so many women’s peace away, piece by piece, until they’re left broken and exhausted?
Alcohol
In many social settings, alcohol is seen as the life of the party. For some, it’s considered a rite of passage, something that makes them ‘cool’. Those who choose not to drink are often seen as naive, boring, or missing out on the fun. But behind the images of socialising, there’s a darker side of alcohol that we rarely discuss, especially when it comes to women.
Its impact on women
When we think of alcohol, we think of the glass in someone’s hand, the toast at a celebration. But what happens when that glass becomes something else?
A recent study by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) revealed that over half of the women they surveyed, 54 per cent to be exact, said that alcohol, when consumed by others, had affected their lives in deeply troubling ways. And the emotional toll of living with someone who regularly consumes alcohol is significant. According to the ADIC survey, 43 per cent of women reported experiencing psychological and emotional distress due to someone else’s drinking. For many, this distress manifests as ongoing anxiety, the uncertainty of what each night might bring. For these women, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ the situation will escalate. The emotional exhaustion of living in a state of constant tension is a burden few can understand unless they live it.
Moreover, the impact is not confined to the private sphere. Nearly 70 per cent of the women surveyed by ADIC indicated that they had experienced discomfort in public because of someone else’s drinking. Yet, 61 per cent did not take action, not because they weren’t affected, but because society has normalised this behaviour.
The most severe consequence of alcohol consumption by others is its connection to physical violence. The ADIC study found that 12 per cent of women reported being victims of physical abuse as a result of someone else’s drinking.
Is alcohol the key to fun or is it mere manipulation?
The alcohol industry has spent years crafting a narrative that positions drinking as a key to fun, freedom, and empowerment. ADIC’s findings reflect how women, in particular, have been targeted by alcohol companies through ads that present drinking as a pathway to liberation. But for many women, the truth is much darker. As the study suggests, 64 per cent of women believe alcohol advertisements are manipulative, selling an illusion of empowerment while hiding the true consequences of alcohol abuse. What these ads don’t show are the women who suffer in silence, the women who don’t get to share their stories of pain because society would rather celebrate the fun than face the truth. These women also felt that alcohol companies were violating their rights, using them as part of a larger system that profits from their pain.
The media, the government, and the alcohol industry play a role in perpetuating a cycle of harm that directly affects the lives of women in Sri Lanka. Whether it’s through normalising alcohol consumption or pushing policies that encourage greater access to alcohol, these forces all contribute to an environment where women continue to bear the brunt of alcohol-induced violence and emotional distress.
Excise Department’s Proposal
Despite strong opposition from organisations like the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), the Excise Commissioner General and his officials have persisted in their proposal.
In December 2024, the Excise Commissioner announced plans to introduce a more affordable, legally manufactured alcohol product. However, this initiative was met with immediate resistance, citing potential health risks and social consequences. On 9 March 2025, during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF), the proposal was revisited, with the Excise Commissioner reiterating the department’s decision to move forward with the plan.
This move is at odds with the new government’s vision of ‘A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life’ and raises questions about whether the Excise Department is creating unnecessary challenges for the administration. The department’s priority should be to address the illicit alcohol trade and its negative impact on society, not to propose solutions that may inadvertently worsen the situation.
Key points raised by ADIC include:
n The introduction of lower-priced legal alcohol is unlikely to reduce the demand for illicit alcohol. As history has shown, price reductions for legal alcohol often lead to increased consumption and do not effectively address the illicit market.
n The claim that lower-priced alcohol will recover lost tax revenue from illicit alcohol is flawed. It will likely reduce overall tax revenue due to the shift to lower-taxed products, and may encourage more individuals, particularly youth, to begin consuming alcohol.
n Reducing the price of alcohol, whether legal or illicit, will likely increase overall consumption, exacerbating public health issues. Alcohol has been identified as a major contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and premature deaths. In Sri Lanka alone, alcohol is responsible for the deaths of around 20,000 individuals annually.
Women trust that laws will protect them, whether from sexual abuse, domestic violence, or exploitation. But when authorities see alcohol as just another commodity rather than a catalyst for harm, what message does that send? If the law exists to safeguard society, why does it bend to accommodate an industry that fuels addiction, violence, and economic strain?
Alcohol doesn’t just damage ONE individual; it fractures families, fuels reckless behaviour, and worsens social inequalities. Women, children, and the most vulnerable in society bear the brunt of its consequences. When policymakers prioritise industry profits over public well-being, they are not just failing in their duty but are also actively enabling a cycle of harm. If we cannot trust the system to stand firm on an issue so deeply tied to public safety, how can we trust it to protect us at all?
Originally Published on Ceylon Today