India: The dark side of long queues at liquor stores

Last week, severe lockdowns were eased in some Indian cities to curb the spread of the corona virus, leading to long queues outside liquor stores across the country.

In cities like Mumbai, which is the epicenter of the corona virus, alcoholics openly flouted social distance rules, forcing the government to close shops again. Police charged the baton. A receipt of Rs 52,000 from a liquor buyer in Bangalore was widely discussed on social media.

The insane crowd was not surprising as the demand for alcohol was so high due to the severe lockdown.

There are reports of an increase in alcohol sales worldwide

It has never been easy to sell alcohol in India. Online sales and home delivery are not allowed. Many state governments have turned against alcohol because it is a kind of vote bank. Each of the 29 states has its own policies for controlling the production, price, sales and taxes of alcohol.

According to London-based research firm IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, India ranks second in the world and China ranks first in terms of alcohol consumption.

The company says that 663 million liters of alcohol is consumed in India, which is 11% more than in 2017.

Whiskey is consumed more than any other country in India. The United States ranks second and India drinks three times as much whiskey as the United States. Let's say that one out of every two bottles of whiskey sold in the world is bought in India.

There is a dark side behind the increase in alcohol consumption in India.

One-third of men in India drink alcohol, according to a new official report. The World Health Organization estimates that 11% of people in India drink heavily, compared to 16% globally.

Worryingly, one in three drinkers in India drinks cheap and locally produced raw alcohol, which is often adulterated and kills with poisonous alcohol. According to the report, about 30 million people drink alcohol to a 'harmful extent'.

According to the World Health Organization, more than half of the alcohol consumed in India is irregularly made locally, meaning there is no record or tax in the state. According to a survey, most people prefer alcohol that is counterfeit and taboo

Large numbers of women in rural areas of the country have been part of the campaign against alcoholism. Santosh Kumar, a researcher at Sam Houston University, says that not only can alcohol be expensive, but it is also important to run awareness campaigns.

Swaraj India Party leader Yogendra Yadav says governments need to reduce their dependence on alcohol revenue. It also includes strict enforcement of existing laws on the sale and purchase of alcohol, including the ban on alcohol advertising.

Analyst Pratap Bhano says the imposition of restrictions on freedom of choice has always led to defeat and has led to an increase in the black market. "If we care so much about freedom, we have to take into account our own cultural and political addiction to alcohol and then find a wise solution to this complex problem, which is not an easy task," he said.