Leszek Socha believes that all restrictions lead to speculation and that if we do not address matters systemically, the economic underground comes to power.
– I know that the right wing cannot stand my generation – Leszek Socha says in a video column. – Probably because it is well educated, competent and has a very interesting past behind it. We lived through the Soviet occupation, which the right wing wants to put us back into, and we have already experienced prohibition. This is state hypocrisy. The possibilities for dividing Poles over access to abortion or the Smolensk disaster have been exhausted. They have to divide Poles over something, taking advantage of our propensity to argue. Every so often, something has to be thrown in, some little stone into the garden, so that we can tear each other apart wholeheartedly. At the moment, this proposed prohibition makes me laugh and worries me at the same time – Socha adds.
A member of the Nowogrodziec Platform argues that drinking alcohol is ultimately a person's choice. Although this choice can ruin a person's life and health, it should remain a choice.
– After my first granddaughter was born, I decided to give up alcohol completely, although it had never caused me any problems in life – Leszek Socha says. – In our not-so-young lives, we have already experienced a ban on selling alcohol at night. The Polish state earns enormous amounts of money from the sale and production of alcohol. And today this hypocrisy makes me laugh a little, because all restrictions lead to speculation. So does someone want to funnel money to someone else? If you close these shops, hypocrites who play on Poles' emotions, you will immediately trigger illegal alcohol sales. What's more, if anything is restricted, especially for a Pole, they will pursue it twice as strongly. Bismarck warned against Poles, and Empress Catherine warned against them. They knew that Poles had to be set against one another from within, because they could not be defeated in battle – Socha adds.
What can be done instead of banning the sale of alcohol?
– To stop or start drinking, one must be fully aware of how alcohol affects the human body – Socha explains. – I was a longtime member of a commission for addressing alcohol-related problems. I took a course explaining how one falls into the vicious cycle of alcoholism and addiction. If we do not educate people and instead hold such foolish discussions, nothing will come of it. This is just another issue with which to divide Poles, and that is what Putin cares about most. Russia is pleased when it sees these trolls so fiercely criticizing Ukraine, which is bleeding to death, and criticizing the government. For money or for free, they become servants of Moscow and the Kremlin, contributing to this policy of weakening our morale, while morale is important for defending the Polish state. I consider all of this sabotage. When I hear that Mr. Trzaskowski will introduce prohibition, I regret voting for him. Thank you very much – Leszek Socha adds.