They ask thee concerning wine and the game of hazard. Say: ‘In both there is great sin and also some advantages for men; but their sin is greater than their advantage.’ And they ask thee what they should spend. Say: ‘What you can spare.’ Thus does Allah make His commandments clear to you that you may reflect. (Al Quran 2:220)
O ye who believe! wine and the game of hazard and idols and divining arrows are only an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So shun each one of them that you may prosper. Satan desires only to create enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and the game of hazard, and to keep you back from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer. But will you keep back?
(Al Quran 5:91-92)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has announced a zero tolerance policy on drink-driving – a major cause of death among Russian men. “I believe that consuming alcohol before driving should be banned,” he said, speaking live on Russian TV. “I will make corresponding amendments to the law.” Heavy drinking and related traffic accidents are seen as one of the main reasons why one in three Russian men dies before retirement age. In a wide-ranging end-of-year interview, Mr Medvedev said “we are not ready yet for allowing consumption of alcohol – even small, limited amounts of it – before driving.” “We are not very accurate drivers as it is, and after a glass people completely lose their heads. Besides, we do know how people (in Russia) usually drink: a glass at first – that is allowed now, isn’t it? – then two, and three, and finally ‘okay, let’s roll’.” |
Zia H. Shah
Germans want absolute ban on drink-driving
The poll, conducted by Emnid for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, showed 77 percent of those asked wanted to see the blood alcohol level at which people are allowed to drink, reduced to zero.
Men feel less strongly on the matter, with 68 percent of them in favour of an absolute ban. Of the women questioned, a massive 85 percent were in favour.
The European parliament voted in favour of a rule for newly qualified drivers and professional drivers to be banned from drinking and driving. This should be achieved by all new cars being fitted with breath-test equipment which would prevent a driver with alcohol on their breath being able to start the engine.
The move is just one of many in an attempt to reduce the number of people killed on Europe’s roads each year. Another is to push down the speed limit in all residential areas to 30 kilometres an hour.
More than 35,000 people are killed in road accidents across the European Union each year, while a further 1.5 million people are injured. The cost is estimated to be around €130 billion a year.
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20111002-37961.html