THE CLOSURE of a bar in Kigali City on Saturday over allegations of selling alcohol to minors should be an eye opener to all those running similar businesses. According to Police, the Kimihurura based bar was not only allowing children into the bar, but also gave teenagers the green light to indulge in all sorts of acts including smoking, drinking and dressing skimpily. This incident is just the tip of the iceberg, and perhaps more operations need to be carried out to stamp out this habit, which is perpetuating immorality among minors. Yes, the city and by extension our country is developing at unprecedented levels but this should not be at the expense of our moral fabric and the future generation. The assertion by the bar owner that this was an investment should not justify these illegal acts. Some entertainment spots’ proprietors have heeded the directive of pinning up announcements that they do not sell alcohol to children below the age of 18 but few outlets try to enforce this directive and you find teenagers openly buying alcoholic drinks over the counter. It should be the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the act of allowing children in bars to drink alcohol and sniff illegal substances is stopped. The authorities should also not wait for holidays to increase on vigilance in apprehending the culprits. Allowing children in bars makes the fight against drug abuse among the youth difficult. However, parents should also keep a keen eye on their children. Keeping a close eye on your child is better than treating him or her for drug or alcohol addiction when it is too late.
