3 min readChandigarhJul 3, 2026 12:34 PM IST
First published on: Jul 3, 2026 at 12:34 PM IST
Nearly one in three men in Himachal Pradesh consumes alcohol, significantly higher than the national average of one in five, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) 2023-24.
The hill state remains the highest among the three states in the region in terms of alcohol consumption, ahead of Punjab and Haryana, despite a marginal decline since the previous survey.
The latest survey, released last month, found that 30.2 per cent of men aged 15 years and above in Himachal Pradesh consume alcohol, compared with the national average of 18.9 per cent.
Compared to NFHS-5 (2019-21), Himachal Pradesh has seen a slight dip from 31.9 per cent to 30.2 per cent, but continues to report the highest prevalence among the three states.
The survey also highlights a rural-urban divide in the state, with 30.6 per cent of rural men consuming alcohol compared with 27.6 per cent in urban areas.
How do Punjab and Haryana fare
While about one in every five men in Punjab consumes alcohol, the figure drops to nearly one in every six in Haryana, highlighting sharp regional differences in drinking habits.
Punjab recorded 22.9 per cent, while Haryana stood at 17.5 per cent, the only one among the three neighbouring states to fall below the all-India average.
Punjab’s figures have remained largely stable, rising marginally from 22.8 per cent in NFHS-5 to 22.9 per cent in NFHS-6. Rural consumption remains higher at 24 per cent, compared with 21.1 per cent in urban areas.
Haryana recorded the lowest prevalence among the three states, though it has seen a slight increase from 16 per cent in NFHS-5 to 17.5 per cent in NFHS-6. Rural men (17.7 per cent) were marginally more likely to consume alcohol than urban men (17.2 per cent).
Among women, alcohol consumption remains low across the region. In Himachal Pradesh, 0.6 per cent of women reported consuming alcohol, compared with 0.3 per cent in Punjab and 0.2 per cent in Haryana. All three states remain below the national average of 1.1 per cent.
Multiple factors at play
Public health expert Professor Sonu Goel said Himachal Pradesh’s higher alcohol consumption is driven by a mix of policy and accessibility factors.
“One of the key reasons is the differential excise policy across states, which makes alcohol relatively more affordable and accessible in Himachal. Similar variations in taxation policies have also been observed in tobacco control, where tax structures influence consumption patterns,” Goel, Professor in the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, said.
“Additionally, Himachal has a strong presence of cottage and home-based alcohol production, with greater operational flexibility for such traditional units. This increases the availability and accessibility of alcohol, contributing to higher consumption in the state,” he added.
Compared to NFHS-5 (2019-21), Himachal Pradesh has seen a slight dip from 31.9 per cent to 30.2 per cent, but continues to report the highest prevalence among the three states.(File Photo) 
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