Liquor Ban in India

Why in News?

• hooch tragedy in Bihar has recently claimed many lives and left several others critically ill and blind.

Highlights

• In India, attempts at prohibition have been influenced by the thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, who viewed alcohol consumption more as a disease than a vice.
• Following India’s independence, Gandhians continued to push for a liquor ban.
• These efforts led to the inclusion of Article 47 in the Constitution.
• Several Indian states have enacted bans on alcoholic beverages.
• For example, Haryana made several attempts at prohibition but was forced to abandon the policy due to the inability to control illicit distillation and bootlegging, which also resulted in many deaths.
• Prohibition has been in effect in Gujarat since 1st May 1960, but the liquor trade persists through the black market.
• Bihar’s prohibition, imposed in April 2016, which initially appeared to succeed and yield certain social gains.
• However, following several deaths from consuming illicit liquor, the policy is increasingly coming under attack.
• Currently, there are five states (Bihar, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, and Mizoram) with total prohibition and some more with partial prohibition.
• Bihar introduced complete prohibition in April 2016. While it certainly has led to reduction in alcohol consumption, the related social, economic, and administrative costs have been far too much to justify gains. Prohibition crippled the judicial administration.
• The former NV CJI Ramana had stated that decisions like the liquor ban in Bihar put a huge burden on courts. As of 2021, there are three lakh cases pending in the courts related to liquor ban.
• There is a need for a nuanced approach that integrates the regulation of alcohol production and sale without compromising the requirements of public health.
• The goal of an effective and sustainable alcohol policy can only be achieved through coordinated action between multiple stakeholders, such as women’s groups and vendors.