The Chief Guest, Registrar Shri Rajan Srivastava, called upon young people to adopt a healthy, disciplined and balanced lifestyle. He emphasised that protecting the younger generation from addiction cannot be viewed merely as the responsibility of families or the government. Rather, it is a collective responsibility of society as a whole. He urged students to remain aware of the long-term consequences of substance abuse and to make informed and responsible decisions concerning their health and future. He stressed that as a community we should move towards zero irresponsible drinking and sensitise young minds on responsible drinking.
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Bhuval Ram, highlighted the adverse impact of alcohol consumption on the physical and mental health of young people. He pointed out that excessive or irresponsible drinking can adversely affect mental well-being, family relationships, academic performance, social responsibilities and overall quality of life. He encouraged students to adopt positive mechanisms for dealing with stress, including sports, yoga, cultural and creative activities, and meaningful social engagement. He also stressed the importance of creating wider public awareness against substance abuse. He also encouraged students not to fall prey to peer influence and encouraged them to embrace responsible drinking.
Presiding over the programme, Prof. Gyan Prakash Mishra, Head of the Department, observed that the vision of a developed India requires a healthy, responsible and productive youth population. He stated that young people need to stay away from alcohol and other forms of substance abuse in order to contribute effectively to the country’s social and economic development. He further remarked that awareness programmes and workshops of this nature help students understand their social responsibilities and their role in nation-building.
Representing Consumer VOICE, Nilanjana Bose highlighted the importance of promoting a culture of responsible decision-making among university students. She emphasised the need to create awareness about the potential physical, psychological, social and economic consequences of alcohol misuse. She also underlined the importance of preventive education and informed choices in reducing alcohol-related harm among young people.
Legal expert and Advocate Abhishek Srivastava, Chairman, Consumer Guild, Lucknow addressed the participants on the serious road-safety risks and legal consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol. He sensitised the students about the dangers posed by drunk driving, not only to the driver but also to passengers, pedestrians and other road users. He emphasised that a moment of irresponsible decision-making can result in serious injuries, loss of life, criminal and legal consequences, financial liabilities and long-term social repercussions.
He further explained that road safety is closely linked with responsible behaviour and that young people have an important role to play in preventing alcohol-related road crashes. Students were encouraged to adopt practical safety measures, including never driving after consuming alcohol, preventing friends from driving while intoxicated, using safe alternative transportation and encouraging responsible behaviour among peers.
