Traffic is getting worse in Montenegro. We’re also facing an alcohol crisis. We’ve already had several scandals involving members of the now-defunct August 30th political bloc. First, there was the incident with the advisor to then Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic and the official whom the then Interior Minister, Sergej Sekulovic, defended by saying he had only had a couple of beers. Later, the Ministry of Health’s state secretary resigned after being caught driving drunk.
And now, the same thing has happened again, but this time with the mayor of Mojkovac, a member of Andrija Mandic’s party. It’s a relief that this young man survived the crash, but he should resign as soon as possible.
How the drunk mayor of Mojkovac run off the road
The clickbait title is intentional. But not to shame the mayor of Mojkovac for this serious mistake. The purpose of this column is something entirely different.
Montenegro has a problem with addiction. Actually, with addictions of many kinds. From gambling, alcohol, narcotics, even prescription drugs. I recently read we’re among the world leaders in antibiotic consumption. People self-medicate and prescribe antibiotics to themselves. I’m not sure if anyone has studied self-medication and dependency on pills here, but I think we’d also rank near the top globally.
Worst of all, there’s no real stigma surrounding these addictions. Stigma happens when the damage is already done, when the illness has taken its toll. Alcoholism and drug abuse are tolerated. Paradoxically, stigma begins only when someone decides to seek treatment. You lose more social respect and credibility not for having been drunk a hundred times at weddings and parties, but for choosing to get help before things go too far.
And that’s how the entire society becomes complicit. Alcoholism is being normalized, and so is drunk driving. Some officials have started to resign. We shall see if Delic is going to do the same. By bringing danger to his life, he could have easily endangered others’. What if a family with children had been driving from the opposite direction?
Why does a man entrusted to run a town behave so irresponsibly? If a mayor faces no consequences for endangering his own and others’ lives, what can we expect from ordinary citizens? Resignation isn’t about political pressure, it’s the bare minimum of honor and accountability.
When a public official causes an accident while being drunk, it’s not just a personal failure, it’s a reflection of his own party, as well as the society that tolerated or even found excuses for such behavior. If someone repeatedly causes scandals and still advances in their career, it’s just another sign that moral integrity is not a requirement for holding office.
A deeper problem lies in the complete absence of a serious, systemic approach to addiction prevention. There’s no clear strategy connecting the education system, healthcare, and social services. Alcohol-induced behavior is often trivialized through humor, tradition, and cultural habits. The sight of politicians carrying bottles and drinking during campaigns is a vivid symbol of how deeply alcohol is intertwined with our culture. We have no public campaign to challenge the myth that drunkenness is normal and acceptable, particularly among public figures.
Addictions aren’t signs of weakness but a serious psychological issue, that’s, by the way, often genetic or hereditary in origin. Our collective attitude toward addiction shows that society neither knows how nor wants to face its own problems. As long as mental health remains taboo, people will stay silent, hide their struggles, and seek “solutions” in vice. It’s time to stop stigmatizing those who seek help and to start speaking openly about mental health, therapy, and treatment as something normal and necessary.
That’s all for today. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM columnist and observer
(The opinions and views of our columnists aren’t necessarily those of the CdM news team)
