Why is Alcohol Banned in Some Indian States?

About Alcohol in Indian Constitution

• Article 47: One of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) mentions that “in particular, the State shall endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.” 
• The 7th Schedule of the Constitution: Alcohol is a state subject, i.e. they have the right and responsibility to draft laws regarding it, including “the production, manufacture, possession, transport, purchase, and sale of intoxicating liquors.” 
• Thus, laws regarding alcohol differ from state to state, falling in the whole spectrum between prohibition and private sale.

Status of Alcohol Prohibition in Indian states

It is difficult for states to declare a ban on alcohol. This is primarily because liquor revenues have consistently contributed a large share of the state government’s revenue. At present, liquor ban exists in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Nagaland while partial bans exist in Lakshadweep and Manipur. Some states, like Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, attempted to enact alcohol prohibition but abandoned it due to its failure.

Rationale behind alcohol prohibition

• Reduction in domestic abuse: Various studies have provided evidence linking alcohol with domestic abuse or domestic violence. In India, prohibition has often been framed as a “women’s rights” issue. 
• Crime against women: A report by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative says that after prohibition was introduced in 2016, “crimes against women have clearly declined both in terms of rate (registered cases per 100,000 female population) and incidence (absolute numbers).” 
• Reducing Crimes: Many other factors and studies have shown marginal improvement in certain kinds of crime after prohibition such as reduced murder rates and other acts of violence caused by alcohol.
• Harmony: Prohibition affects family members, affects kids, and it affects violence that happens inside someone’s home.

Arguments against alcohol prohibition

• Strengthening crimes: The prohibition strengthens organized crime groups (or mafias) to the distribution of spurious liquor, as it creates opportunities for a thriving underground economy that distributes liquor, outside the regulatory framework of the state. 
• Poorer section: Furthermore, prohibition disproportionately affects poorer sections of society with upper classes still being able to procure expensive (and safe) alcohol. 
• Liquor revenue: Liquor revenues are not easy to ignore and have consistently contributed a large share of the state government’s revenue.

Way Forward

• The government should restrict the age for drinking alcohol and buying alcohol below a certain age should also be restricted.
• There is a need for organizing more awareness campaigns so that citizens should have more responsible behavior from within.

News Source: The Indian Express

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-do-some-indian-states-have-prohibition-does-it-work-8333222/

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