Context

• India faces recurring tragedies, from road accidents to monsoon flooding, often attributed to an incompetent state unable to enforce laws.
• Among these tragedies, the recurrent calamities due to the consumption of illicit alcohol stand out, highlighting both legal and moral failures.
• The recent Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu, resulting in nearly 60 deaths, underscores the severe consequences of these failures.

Historical Context of Alcohol Consumption in India

• Ancient and Medieval Periods
  • References to alcohol, particularly a fermented drink called soma, appear in the Vedic texts and soma was considered a divine drink and was consumed during religious rituals and ceremonies.
  • The Rigveda, one of the oldest Indian scriptures, speaks of soma with reverence, indicating its importance in the social and religious life of that era.
  • During the Mughal period, despite the Quranic prohibition of alcohol, drinking was not uncommon.
  • The Mughal emperors and their courts indulged in wine and other alcoholic beverages, imported from Persia and Central Asia, as well as locally produced drinks.
  • This period saw a flourishing of a sophisticated drinking culture, with alcohol integrated into the fabric of elite social life.
• Colonial Period
  • The British colonial authorities sought to regulate and control the production and consumption of alcohol, introducing new forms of liquor and establishing a taxation regime.
  • Indigenous alcoholic beverages, which were integral to community celebrations and cultural practices, were stigmatised and restricted.
  • The colonial narrative framed these traditional practices as primitive, promoting instead the consumption of gin and whiskey, distilled in industrial quantities and heavily taxed.
  • This period also saw the birth of the term "Indian-made foreign liquor" (IMFL), which became a symbol of colonial influence.
  • IMFL represented a blend of Western and Indian drinking cultures, embodying the tensions between colonial control and indigenous practices.
  • The British promoted these beverages among the Indian elite, creating a class of brown sahibs who adopted Western lifestyles and drinking habits.
• Independence and Prohibition Movements
  • The temperance movement, which had been gaining momentum since the late 19th century, found a natural ally in the independence struggle.
  • Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who viewed alcohol as a social evil and a threat to moral integrity, championed the cause of prohibition.
  • Gandhi's vision of a free India included a society free from the vices introduced by colonial rule, with alcohol being a prime target.
  • When India gained independence in 1947, the ideals of the temperance movement were enshrined in the Constitution.
  • Article 47 of the Directive Principles of State Policy urged the state to endeavour to bring about prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health.
  • This made India the only secular and democratic country to constitutionally mandate such a directive, reflecting the strong moral undertones of the independence era.
• Modern Era and Contemporary Issues
  • In the modern era, state policies on alcohol vary widely, reflecting the ongoing tension between moral, cultural, and economic factors.
  • States like Bihar have experimented with prohibition, driven by concerns over alcohol-fuelled domestic violence and public health.
  • However, these efforts often lead to unintended consequences, such as the proliferation of illicit alcohol production and consumption.

Contradictory Excise Policies and Their Consequences

• Prohibition and Its Implementation
  • After India gained independence, the constitutional directive to promote prohibition of intoxicating substances was a nod to the moral and cultural values espoused by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi.
  • However, the practical implementation of prohibition was delegated to individual states, leading to a patchwork of policies that reflect a wide spectrum of approaches towards alcohol regulation.
• Economic Considerations
  • One of the most significant contradictions in alcohol policy arises from the economic benefits that alcohol sales provide to state governments.
  • Alcohol excise is a major source of revenue, often contributing significantly to the state’s budget.
  • For instance, the government of Tamil Nadu generates substantial revenue through the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which controls the sale of alcohol in the state.
  • This economic dependency creates a conflict of interest, making it challenging to implement strict prohibition.
• Social and Cultural Dimensions
  • The societal perception of alcohol consumption is another area of contradiction.
  • On one hand, traditional and moralistic views continue to stigmatise drinking, associating it with moral decay and social vice.
  • On the other hand, urbanisation and globalisation have brought about a shift in attitudes, particularly among the younger generation and urban elites, who view drinking as a symbol of modernity and personal freedom.
• Impact on Health and Public Safety
  • In states with prohibition, the consumption of illicit alcohol often leads to mass poisoning incidents, as seen in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
  • The lack of regulatory oversight in the production of illicit alcohol results in dangerous concoctions that can cause severe health issues and fatalities.
• Surge in Illegal Moonshine Industries
  • These contradictory policies have perpetuated the illegal moonshine industry, driven by the high demand for alcohol in regions where it is criminalised.
  • Law enforcement agencies and political figures often collude with the mafia or fail to enforce the law, with the poor bearing the brunt of these policies.
  • In Bihar, prisons are overcrowded with poor men arrested for drinking, and most victims of hooch tragedies are impoverished.

Way Ahead to Address the Issue of Illicit Alcohol

• Need for a National Consensus
  • Addressing this issue requires a national consensus to balance public health science and personal freedoms.
  • Lessons from other countries can guide this approach. For instance, revisiting policies on cannabis, which India criminalized under U.S. pressure, despite its long history of use, could be insightful.
  • The U.S. now hosts the largest legal cannabis industry, suggesting potential pathways for India.
• Strict Quality Control
  • Legalising alcohol consumption with strict quality controls and permitting indigenous alcohol production is crucial.
  • Concurrently, enforcing zero-tolerance for alcohol-related offenses, such as bars selling to underage drinkers, is imperative.
  • Shifting from the traditional in-patient deaddiction centres to evidence-based psychosocial interventions within the primary care network would also help treat harmful drinking non-stigmatising.
• Learning from International Experience
  • Reflecting on international experiences, such as the culture change in Britain during the late 1980s and 1990s regarding drink-driving, is instructive.
  • The UK extended pub closing hours and strictly enforced drink-driving laws, leading to a societal shift where drink-driving became socially unacceptable.

Conclusion

• The contradictory policies on alcohol in India reflect a deep-seated tension between moral imperatives, economic interests, and social realities.
• These contradictions have led to a range of unintended consequences, from the proliferation of illicit alcohol and associated health risks to the reinforcement of gender and socio-economic inequalities.
• Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive and balanced approach that integrates public health science, respects personal freedoms, and learns from the experiences of other countries.