The Excise Department will take up a rigorous campaign against alcohol and drugs at the school and college level, Excise Commissioner Anil Xavier has said.
He was talking to mediapersons after inaugurating a two-day poster exhibition organised by the department at Museum Auditorium here on Monday.
“We will try to steer the new generation away from drug and alcohol consumption,” Mr. Xavier said.
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The exhibition, part of a public awareness campaign being undertaken by the department, would also have workshops and seminars across the State. Ant-drugs clubs would be set up in schools.
For the poster exhibition, entries were invited from the public.
Among the posters on display were many hand-drawn caricatures, marked by bold shades of red and black, and printed ones carrying messages such as ‘Stop drinking, start thinking.’ Some others were overt depictions of the dangers of indulging drug and alcohol abuse.
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Excise Department officers said the advertisements seeking entries were published over a month ago.
The department had sent invites to schools and there was a good response.
Visitors were welcome to jot down the serial number of the poster which they thought best conveyed the message and drop the paper in a box.
A seven-member committee will evaluate the posters. The committee would also consider the opinion of the public before announcing the winners, Excise Inspector Jayaraj P.K. said.
The first prize carries a purse of Rs.25,000; second Rs.20,000; and third Rs.15,000.