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Indians push for alcohol prohibition in street protests Indians push for alcohol prohibition in street protests
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Demonstrators took to the streets in southern India on Tuesday to call for a ban on the sale of alcohol.Demonstrators took to the streets in southern India on Tuesday to call for a ban on the sale of alcohol.
Hundreds of police were deployed to protect liquor shops after violent clashes earlier in the week between activists, students and the police in the southern city of Chennai and elsewhere in the state of Tamil Nadu.Hundreds of police were deployed to protect liquor shops after violent clashes earlier in the week between activists, students and the police in the southern city of Chennai and elsewhere in the state of Tamil Nadu.
“The police are threatening us and beating up protesters,” said Mathivanan Vinodh, a student activist in Salem, 200 miles from Chennai. “The police are threatening us and beating up protesters,” said Mathivanan Vinodh, a student activist in Salem, 200 miles from Chennai. “Our demand is for immediate and total prohibition … Too many lives are being ruined due to alcohol and women are suffering the most,” Vinodh, 22, said.
“Our demand is for immediate and total prohibition … Too many lives are being ruined due to alcohol and women are suffering the most,” Vinodh, 22, said. An increasing number of grassroots movements in India are pressuring local state governments – which earn vast sums from the sale of alcohol – to impose restrictions or bans.
An increasing number of grassroots movements in India are pressuring local state governments, which earn vast sums from the sale of alcohol, to impose restrictions or bans. According to a recent World Health Organisation report, around 30% of the total population of India consumed alcohol in the year 2010 – mainly spirits. The per-capita consumption of alcohol in the country rose from 1.6 litres (2.8 pints) a decade ago to 2.2 litres in 2012 – one of the fastest increases in the world. However the highest average intake per capita was still lower than that of the average citizen of the US and binge drinking less common than in many other countries.
According to a recent World Health Organisation report, around 30% of the total population of India consumed alcohol in the year 2010, mainly spirits. The per capita consumption of alcohol in the country rose from 1.6 litres a decade ago to a 2.2 litres in 2012, one of the fastest increases in the world. Medical officials experts say alcoholism is a serious problem in Tamil Nadu, with a growing public health impact. “Alcohol, domestic violence and suicide – this is the classic triad,” said Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, psychiatrist and founder of an NGO called Sneha which runs a suicide helpline.
However the highest average intake per capita was still lower than that of the average citizen of the US and binge drinking less common than in many other countries. Vijayakumar said: “In India the average drinking age has come down from 19 to 13-14 years of age. In my experience about 10 years ago, alcoholics who came to me for treatment used to be in their 40s. Now most of my patients are 25-30 years of age. Of the people who consume liquor, only perhaps 20% drink in moderation. The rest fall into the hazardous drinkers category.”
Medical officials experts say alcoholism is a serious problem in Tamil Nadu, with a growing public health impact. The state of Kerala, a popular destination for western holidaymakers, implemented partial prohibition in August last year, allowing liquor sales only in five-star hotels and bars. Local liquor shops were initially shut down and later converted to beer and wine parlours. In Maharashtra, a western state, officials said a ban was being considered. There have been calls for similar action in the north-western state of Punjab.
“Alcohol, domestic violence and suicide – this is the classic triad,” said Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, psychiatrist and founder of an NGO called Sneha which runs a suicide helpline.
“In India the average drinking age has come down from 19 years to 13-14 years. In my experience about 10 years ago, alcoholics who came to me for treatment used to be in their 40s. Now most of my patients are 25-30 years of age. Of the people who consume liquor, only perhaps 20% drink in moderation, the rest fall into the hazardous drinkers category,” she added.
The state of Kerala, a popular destination for western holidaymakers, implemented partial prohibition in August last year, allowing liquor sales only in five-star hotels and bars. Local liquor shops were initially shut down and later converted to beer and wine parlours. In Maharashtra, a western state, officials said a ban was being considered. There have been calls for similar action in the north-western state of Punjab.
In the state of Goa, drinking has been banned on beaches but a broader ban would be against the state’s culture, politicians have said.In the state of Goa, drinking has been banned on beaches but a broader ban would be against the state’s culture, politicians have said.
Many movements to ban the sale of alcohol in India are led by women. Many movements to ban the sale of alcohol in India are led by women. “All the men in our village are alcoholics,” said Arunmozhi Velusamy, a farm labourer in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. “We get beaten up daily by drunk husbands and fathers and there is never any money in the house as the men spend it all on liquor.”
“All the men in our village are alcoholics,” said Arunmozhi Velusamy, a farm labourer in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. “We get beaten up daily by drunk husbands and fathers and there is never any money in the house as the men spend it all on liquor.” In Tamil Nadu, the state government took over retail sales of liquor in 2003. Liquor stores are now government-owned. Government revenues from the direct sale of alcohol have gone up by 20% every year since 2003 and stood at 260bn rupees (£2.6bn) last year – one-third of the state’s entire revenues.
In Tamil Nadu, the state government took over retail sales of liquor in 2003. Liquor stores are now government-owned. Government revenues from the direct sale of alcohol have gone up by 20% every year since 2003 and stood at 260bn rupees (£2.6bn) last year, one-third of the state’s entire revenues. The protests have intensified following the death of a veteran anti-alcohol campaigner during a protest last week. Sasi Perumal, 59, climbed a 40-metre mobile phone tower in Kanyakumari district with a can of kerosene and threatened to self-immolate unless a local liquor outlet in the area was shut down. He appeared to have suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
The protests have intensified following the death of a veteran anti-alcohol campaigner during a protest last week. Perumal’s family and fellow activists began a hunger strike soon after his death. “Our demands are total prohibition,” said Navaneethan Sasi Perumal, the 35-year-old son of the dead campaigner. “We demand immediate closure of all liquor outlets.”
Sasi Perumal, 59, climbed a 40-metre mobile phone tower in Kanyakumari district with a can of kerosene and threatened to self-immolate unless a local liquor outlet in the area was shut down. He appears to have suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. The state government, ruled by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, has refused to change its policy despite opposition parties’ support for the campaigners. “Government policy cannot be changed by violent protests,” said the state minister for prohibition and excise, Natham Viswanathan, in a statement on Monday.
Perumal’s family and fellow activists began a hunger strike soon after his death.
“Our demands are total prohibition,” said Navaneethan Sasi Perumal, the 35-year-old son of the dead campaigner. “We demand immediate closure of all liquor outlets.”
The state government, ruled by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), has refused to change its policy despite opposition parties’ support for the campaigners.
“Government policy cannot be changed by violent protests,” said the state minister for prohibition and excise, Natham Viswanathan, in a statement on Monday.