Alcohol consumption is rising in India. What steps can the governments’ take to prevent this serious threat? (200 words)
Refer – Financial Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· According to WHO, in just over a decade (2005-2016), per capita alcohol consumption in India more than doubled from 2.4 litres to 5.7 litres.
· Easy availability of liquor, access to alcohol at home, curiosity, peer pressure and its association with a certain kind of lifestyle have contributed to this shift in drinking patterns.
· Although the Indian constitution includes the prohibition of alcohol among its directive principles, alcohol policy is devolved to individual states.
· Since most states derive huge revenue from alcohol taxation, they are generally ambivalent towards stemming its flow.
· The harmful use of alcohol is a primary causal factor in more than 200 diseases.
· There are also significant social costs, in terms of violence against women, and economic costs, in terms of public healthcare burden arising out of alcohol dependence, lost productivity, etc.
Suggestions
· Alcohol consumption as a habit is more likely to be taken up at a younger age and targeting such age groups is regarded as an important step to reduce the harm of alcohol abuse.
· To prevent them from being addicted –
1. Make students aware about alcohol and its effects on their body as a part of their curriculum.
2. Increase the age at which alcohols can be purchased
· Given the paucity of de-addiction centres, the states must work to create more de-addiction centres.
· Ban or restrict advertising of alcohol.
· Credible, evidence based educational campaigns in the mass media about the consequences of alcohol abuse.
· Provide guidelines for parents to prevent alcohol abuse amongst adolescents.
