Assam 4th in liquor consumption: RGI

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 22: The stage is set for Assam to hit headlines for a wrong reason, yet again. The state occupies the fourth position at the tiol level in so far as liquor consumption is concerned.
Liquor consumption has been a bane, leading to domestic violence, accidents and deaths.
According to Registrar General of India’s (RGI) reports, there has been a 55 per cent increase in liquor consumption in India in the last decade, and Assam secured the fourth position. In Assam where 23.8 per cent of people consume liquor, Tinsukia has broken all records. It is at the third spot among all districts in India in so far as liquor consumption is concerned. As many as 36.5 per cent people consume liquor in the upper Assam district. According to latest reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), in the world around 3 million people die every year due to liquor consumption. India witnesses death of 15 individuals per day – death of an individual in every 96 seconds. Spiked liquor takes toll on six people per day in India.
According to RGI reports, of the total 55 per cent increase in liquor consumption in India 7.6 per cent death has been recorded in males and 4 per cent in females. Out of the road accidents in India 25 per cent death occurred under the influence of liquor. Out of the total road accidents occurred while coming to hospitals during emergency, 17.6 per cent was under the influence of liquor. 69 per cent crime recorded in India was the under the influence of liquor, the report stated.
According to RGI and other reports till 1990 Indians started to consume liquor from the average age of 28. Till 2013 liquor consumption started from the average age of 15.
A day-long semir was held on the mece in Assamese society under the influence of liquor consumption under the aegis of Mod Mukta Axom Dabi Samity in the city. Speaking on the occasion, samity president Prabin Das said that there has been a significant rise of local and foreign liquor business in Assam. “Local bars selling local and spiked liquor along with foreign liquor outlets have affected every society, inflicting danger upon the intellectuality and the socio-cultural fabric of Assam. Liquor consumption has not only affected society, it has also led to diseases like cancer, liver syrosis, heart diseases, gastric ulcer etc., in individuals,” he said.
Taking a dig at the State Government for backing liquor business on the sidelines of revenue generation, Das said that Gujarat has set an example to ban liquor in the state, followed by galand. “If States like Bihar has banned sale and consumption of liquor why can’t Assam do that?” he said. “Country liquor has been another mece in society. 40-50 per cent alcohol content is found in country liquor. An average Assamese spends around Rs 5,000 for buying liquor per month. This is also a reason behind further bankruptcy of economically weak families. Liquor consumption is slowly breaking the backbone of the future generation,” he added.
Doctor Sanjay kumar Das said that by cultivating scientific ways the mece of alcoholism can reduced to a great extent. “Alcoholism has turned into substance abuse in today’s society. People are psychologically vulnerable. Laying stress on zero tolerance on liquor consumption will help rather than liquor ban,” he said.