Changes to liquor laws would help rein in rampant violent crime in Papua New Guinea, according to a senior policeman.
Photo: AFP / Picture-Alliance
That is the view of Port Moresby detective chief sergeant Ulavis Mantu, who was asked by our correspondent what could be done about violence in PNG.
In recent weeks concerns about gender violence have been prominent especially in the wake of the sudden death of a prominent journalist Rosalyn Albaniel Evara.
Chief sergeant Mantu said alcohol abuse was a key factor in the gender violence, along with cultural dislocation for those from different parts of PNG.
He would like to see limits on access to alcohol.
"At the moment it is not being controlled because liquor is being sold in settlements and all the other places. They are operating without licence. This thing is out of control so the legislation has to come up with something - that's one.
"We can control the liquors but goes back to the behaviour of the person who is drinking. People need to take stock of their life, the alcohol you are taking is damaging your livelihood. You change the way you live, you change the way you are doing things."
