High liquor consumption a matter of concern for state

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, February 24

High levels of country-made and foreign-made liquor consumption in Himachal have become a matter of concern. The anti-people liquor policy of the state government is alleged to be behind the steep rise in liquor consumption in the state.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that liquor consumption in the state had touched new highs in the past 10 years. The sale of liquor in the state is likely cross 12 crore bottles in 2015-16 as the state government has proposed a 15 per cent hike in the quota of liquor for the contractors to earn more revenue from the sale of liquor. The state Cabinet, which will meet this week, is likely to give its nod to the hike.

“However, there is an increase of 12.8 per cent in the population of the state in the past 10 years, whereas the consumption of liquor has gone from 5 crore bottles to 11 crore bottles. As per the 2011 Census, the total population of the state is over 68 lakh only, which includes 35 lakh men. Out of the 35 lakh men, 15 lakh are male children below 18 who do not consume liquor, which means that 12 crore bottles of liquor will be consumed by 20 lakh men alone.”

Official sources said liquor consumption was 1.58 crore bottles in 1991-92, 5 crore in 2001-02, 10 crore in 2011-12, 10.5 crore in 2013 and 11 crore in 2014.

If the state Cabinet gives its nod to an increase of 15 per cent quota of liquor for contractors, liquor consumption is likely to exceed all previous records. These figures mean that every third person of the state consumes liquor.

Inder Rana, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, when contacted, said it would be too early to comment as the new excise policy was yet to be approved by the Cabinet.

The number of social bodies and NGOs working in this field and heading the anti-alcohol campaign said the situation was alarming in the state as it gave rise to diseases like liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, kidney failure and gastro problems.

Most of the victims are youths. Besides, high levels of liquor consumption have also increased incidents of domestic violence, suicides among women, road mishaps and deteriorating law and order situation.

Daleep Sharma and Neelam Sood, members of People’s Voice (an NGO), said it was a matter of concern that the state government had ignored human health and gave priority to revenue collection from liquor sale.

They said the de-addiction drive of the state government had proved to be a big failure in the state. They appealed to the state government to review its excise policy with immediate effect to save youth from alcohol.