Liquor Ban In Kerala

Supreme Court upholds the controversial ‘Liquor-Free Kerala’ policy restricting the serving of liquor to five-star hotels in the State. The Supreme Court ruled that the State governments be given a free hand to curtail or ban public consumption of alcohol to protect public health and nutrition.

About Liquor free Kerala:

•  In August 2014, the Kerala government announced that alcohol would be served only in five-star hotels and ordered hundreds of bars to close down.
•   However, state government amends it and states that other hotels and bars can also sell alcohol, but only wine and beer.

Analysis:

•   Kerala has the country’s highest per capita consumption of liquor, 8.3 litres a year. There has been a series of reports of alcohol-related crimes, often within families, and health issue.
•  Tourism cannot be the only motive of any policy. Welfare and health of people is equally important.
•  The Directive Principles in the Constitution necessitates that strict state regulation is vital to discourage regular and excessive consumption of alcohol.
•   It has been observed that the rate of crime has decreased after the closing down of the 418 bars a few months back. While this does not directly imply that there is a cause-effect relationship, there have been numerous studies that show how alcoholism has led to increase in crime, especially against women and children. So, the reduction in crime can be attributed to the reduction in availability of alcohol.
•  There is hardly any explanation for scrapping licenses of local bars while allowing five-star hotels to continue to sell it, unless the state prohibits the sale, consumption or prohibition of alcohol completely.
•   This would mean prohibition for the working class, while those who can afford it, can continue drinking.
•   By increasing taxes on tobacco or alcohol, the government follows the WHO principle by which people should not be able to afford "sin" goods. But by giving out licenses only to five-star hotels, it sends out a message saying it is okay only for the super rich to continue drinking.
•   Banning of alcohol, when not implemented properly, will only lead to the creation of a black market, where prices, consumption and above all, quality will remain beyond control.
•   Liquor was a very big source of revenue for the Government. Banning this would be forgoing such a big amount of revenue, which is almost one -third of the total revenue.
•   Creating awareness against alcoholism - clearly demarcating the use and abuse - will be more productive compared to a complete ban on alcohol.

Dilaing….mains (General study II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources)

Question:

Is the ban on consumption of liquor is justified? Discuss the prohibition policies followed by various states in India and their success on ground.

By: Vishal