Alcohol Abuse in India

Indians on average are drinking more than ever and paying the price in terms of related health issues. In 2005, the per capita alcohol consumption in the country stood at 2.4 litres, which rose to 4.3 litres in 2010 and further to 5.7 litres in 2016. So in just 11 years, the alcohol consumed in India was up by nearly two-and-half fold on average. This has been revealed in the global status report on alcohol and health 2018 released by World Health Organization (WHO) recently. It has pegged the number of deaths in 2016 due to harmful use of alcohol at over 3 million; more than 5% of the global disease burden has been attributed to alcohol abuse. The report says that among alcohol-related deaths — 28% were due to drunken driving, self-injuries and fights; 21% due to digestive disorders; 19% due to cardiovascular diseases, and the remaining deaths due to infectious diseases, cancers, mental disorders and other health conditions affecting alcohol ravaged bodies. WHO is now urging countries to implement “creative solutions” that will save lives, such as taxing alcohol and restricting advertising; it is reminding governments that they must do more to cut demand and meet the target of bringing about 10% reduction in alcohol consumption globally between 2010 and 2025. Will India rise to this task? That seems difficult, with cash-strapped State governments striving hard to increase liquor excise revenue. When the country’s apex court last year banned liquor vends near highways, many State governments responded by de-notifying entire highways. As for the Assam government, it has been making laws to discourage public drinking and creating nuisance, as well as penalise the transportation and stocking of liquor from neighbouring States. At the same time, Dispur is pulling out all stops to raise liquor excise collection and popularise local brews. Such contradictory pulls would have been amusing, had it not been for the tragic costs the State is bearing in terms of health loss and social suffering due to alcohol abuse.