The argument on alcohol

Also, the prohibition department of the State Government receives such little money that they are totally ineffective in spreading awareness about alcohol addiction. Yet, a total ban on the sale of alcohol would not work. It would, in fact, give rise to a mafia that would smuggle in the intoxicant.

What can be done to tackle the problem is to put restrictions on its sale. Sugar industries, instead of producing domestic alcohol, should produce industrial alcohol, which is used as a solvent. There should be fewer outlets selling it, and it should not be sold without a permit.

This apart, the government should increase awareness about the ill-effects of the disease. The Tekchand Committee in 1972 had recommended that the government spend five per cent of the revenue earned from alcohol towards creating this awareness.

Two years ago, Maharashtra earned Rs. 800 crore from this industry. The figure has jumped to Rs. 1,400 crore now. And they have spent just about Rs. 1.53 crore on spreading awareness about it in the state. Implementation of existing laws, restriction on sale and production and creating an awareness would be most effective in dealing with alcoholism.

Anthony Pereira Liquor dealer
Drinking, per se, is not bad. It is only when one drinks more than is necessary that it becomes a problem. In fact, I have read somewhere that one or two pegs a day is actually good for senior citizens.

Prohibition of the sale of liquor, in my opinion, will not stop drinking. Morarji Desai had introduced this once and it did not work. Prohibition only leads to the sale of illicit liquor. Why would one prevent the sale of safe government-approved liquor, when this would only lead to the spurious variety being sold surreptitiously?

If people cannot stop at a drink or two, then they should not touch liquor at all. They should have the will power to do that. Sale of liquor should not be banned just because a few people become alcoholics. The more controls you impose, the more that activity increases.

The government of Maharashtra has the highest duties on the sale of liquor. In Goa, the duties are the lowest, yet you will hardly find a man who has had one too many on the streets, while here, drunks on the roads are aplenty.

Even the permit system has not worked. For Rs. 35, one can get a permit, and with one in their pocket, the young guys feel they can drink as much as they want. What will work is education. Some years ago, smoking was very common amongst the youth. But now, with the ill-effects of smoking becoming common knowledge, I find very few youngsters hooked onto this habit. Similarly, prohibition will not curb alcoholism, awareness will.