2006年VOA标准英语-Alcohol a Growing Problem in South Sudan

By Noel King
Juba
05 January 2006

One year ago, a peace deal between Sudan's northern Islamist government and southern rebels turned Juba city into the capital of a new autonomous¹ southern Sudan.  Locals say the biggest changes are social freedom and increased trade.  Freedom and trade have also brought cheap beer that has flooded the city's markets, and led to an increase in social problems.

---------------------------------------------

Beer is a common drink around the world  
  

It is barely noon, but the music is blaring in a small tin-roofed shack² in Juba's Custom Market.  There is no electricity in Juba city this day and even government offices are darkened; but there is power here.  The shop owners have a generator³.

They need electricity to keep their stocks of beer cold, and the beer business is steady.  Cheap Ugandan brew⁴ is sold to everyone, even to young boys and men who are clearly inebriated⁵.

With the opening of a trade road between Juba and Yei in the south, Ugandan beer flooded into the city.  Before, suppliers say, the price of beer could be as high as $6 per bottle.  Now it is about $1.

This is freedom say southerners, who lived under Islamic law called Sharia imposed by the northern government in 1983.  Sharia forbade the consumption of alcohol.  But with the signing of a peace deal in January between southern rebels and the northern government, a tacit agreement was made not to prosecute⁶ those who drink.

Juba is more fun now, say residents, but drunkenness has led to a variety of social problems.  On any given afternoon drunk men and boys stumble down streets.  Some of them are aggressive; many of them are looking for a fight.

Juba County Commissioner⁷ Peter Jerkis says his citizenry is largely traumatized by years of war.  He says alcohol and trauma⁸ are a dangerous mix. "This war made many people traumatized, mentally sick," said Mr. Jerkis.  "And so they do not behave the way expected.  We need to come out with counseling programs so they know that war is over.  We are in peace, what they are doing is not good."

Now, southern Sudanese have to determine how to clamp down on drunkenness without stopping the fun.

One thing is certain, says Mr. Jerkis, Southern Sudanese are not about to give up their hard-won freedom.  "We are on our way to correct the situation," he added.  "But we are not going to prevent the coming of alcohol to Juba town.  We are not applying Sharia law here.  But they need to be regulated.  We do not want that kind of consumption.  At least we have to say there are times to take alcohol, in the evening after work.  And then also we will have to regulate it to the extent that children will not take (it)."

But for kids here, alcohol is an escape from bad memories and boredom⁹.

Pitia Wani, Director of Education for Equatoria State, says alcohol is affecting his schools. "Most of our disciplinary problems in secondary schools have been students getting drunk," he said.  "Most of our secondary schools are surrounded by displaced people, and these internally displaced live on selling alcohol.  Most of our students during breakfast time run for a quick glass or two glasses of beer, and most of the time they come drunk to classes."

Mr. Wani says a law needs to be passed forbidding children under the age of 18 from drinking.

Most residents are well aware that there is a problem with alcohol in Juba.  Local government officials say they are trying to start counseling programs and the city's priests now talk of the dangers of alcohol in their sermons.

On a Sunday after church, men and women flock to a wholesale¹⁰ beer supplier in Juba to buy crates¹¹ of beer for $20.  The store is being run by two young men who are barely in their 20s. Mogga James says he will do great business, but he says he does not drink.  Asked why not he laughs, and says he is young.  He has his future to think about.

That attitude is not shared by all in Juba.  Many residents are still used to living one day at a time, as they did during the long civil war.

1 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

2 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

3 generator   

n.发电机，发生器

参考例句：

• All the while the giant generator poured out its power.巨大的发电机一刻不停地发出电力。
• This is an alternating current generator.这是一台交流发电机。

4 brew   

v.酿造，调制

参考例句：

• Let's brew up some more tea.咱们沏些茶吧。
• The policeman dispelled the crowd lest they should brew trouble.警察驱散人群，因恐他们酿祸。

5 inebriated   

adj.酒醉的

参考例句：

• He was inebriated by his phenomenal success. 他陶醉于他显赫的成功。 来自互联网
• Drunken driver(a driver who is inebriated). 喝醉了的司机（醉酒的司机） 来自互联网

6 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

9 boredom   

n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊

参考例句：

• Unemployment can drive you mad with boredom.失业会让你无聊得发疯。
• A walkman can relieve the boredom of running.跑步时带着随身听就不那么乏味了。

10 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

11 crates   

n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱

参考例句：

• We were using crates as seats. 我们用大木箱作为座位。
• Thousands of crates compacted in a warehouse. 数以千计的板条箱堆放在仓库里。