Scale and Impact of Alcohol Use in India
- Alcohol is unsafe even at minimal consumption — the safe limit is 0 ml.
- 23% of Indian men and 1% of women consume alcohol (NFHS-5).
- India has one of the highest rates of heavy episodic drinking.
- In 2021, alcohol use caused 2.6 million DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years).
- Societal cost of alcohol-related harm is estimated at ₹6.24 trillion.
- Alcohol consumption rose by ~240% over two decades; nearly 50% of it is unrecorded.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues)
Determinants of Alcohol Consumption
- (i) Biopsychosocial Factors:
- Genetic predisposition, stress relief, peer pressure, media glamorisation.
- (ii) Commercial Factors:
- New appealing products: fruit-flavored spirits, pre-mixed cocktails.
- Surrogate advertising, sponsorships, and social media amplification.
- Happy hours, sleek packaging, and low pricing (especially IMIL) drive appeal.
- (iii) Policy Factors:
- States hold regulatory power, causing wide policy inconsistencies.
- Alcohol industry lobbies to preserve excise revenues and resist reforms.
Policy and Regulation Landscape
- Prohibition exists in Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
- Some States (e.g. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh) promote sales or explore online delivery.
- Legal drinking age ranges from 18–25 across States.
- Alcohol excluded from GST, so States levy excise taxes, often vaguely defined.
Weaknesses in National Policies
- India lacks a comprehensive National Alcohol Control Policy.
- Existing national policies focus on isolated issues:
- NAPDDR (2021–22): Addresses supply/demand via multiple ministries.
- NMHP (2014): Recognised alcohol’s role in mental illness/suicide.
- NHP (2017) and NSPS (2022): Advocated higher taxes and restrictions.
- NMAP (2017–22): Called for a cohesive alcohol policy.
Contradictions and Fragmentation
- Alcohol regulation is entangled with:
- State revenues, political interests, and social norms.
- Mixed messaging: While some States promote restrictions, others market alcohol as “traditional” or “affordable.”
- Fragmented institutional roles across ministries dilute accountability and effectiveness.
Recommendations for a National Alcohol Control Strategy
- (i) Affordability: Use pricing to deter abuse but avoid illicit liquor risks.
- (ii) Allocation: Health taxes on alcohol should be earmarked for public health, not general budgets.
- (iii) Accessibility: Reduce visibility and availability in urban/public spaces.
- (iv) Advertisement: Curb “social surrogacy” and algorithmic promotion of alcohol online.
- (v) Attractiveness: Enforce plain packaging, warning labels, and limit point-of-sale promotions.
- (vi) Awareness: Launch large-scale campaigns on alcohol’s links to cancer, suicide, and generational poverty.
- (vii) AI Surveillance: Use AI to detect alcohol promotion and misinformation on digital platforms.
Way Forward
- Alcohol is a public health crisis, not just a revenue source.
- India needs a coordinated, national-level policy focused on people over profit, prevention over revenue, and long-term well-being over short-term gains.
- A systems approach — combining science, equity, and governance — is essential to address the alcohol epidemic.
