People have been brewing and fermenting
alcohol since the beginning of civilization. Alcohol, in moderation, has been
celebrated in Vedas, Buddhism, Shaivism, Tantra, Catholicism and many tribal
traditions. The society has advanced considerably over the years resulting in
an increased change in the quantity and patterns of use of alcohol. Alcoholism has
become a serious public health problem that leads to social and domestic
problems such as homicides, road accidents, suicides, women and child abuse, poverty,
job absenteeism, etc. India has become one of the largest producers of alcohol
producing 65% of alcoholic beverages in South East Asia and is the third
largest market for distillers and international brewers. The number of people
who have consumed alcohol has moved from 1 in 300 to 1 in 20 in the past two
decades and more than half of those in this statistics fall into the group of
‘hazardous drinking’. It has been estimated that there could be 14 million
people in India who are addicted to alcohol and in need of help. Adoption of
western lifestyles by people in the urban India has paved way to an upsurge in
the number of bars and nightclubs. Youngsters grow up in a ‘schizophrenic’
environment absorbing the worst of both the eastern and western cultures. Rural
India is also witnessing an equally seismic effect as a result of collapsed
joint family value system and people moving away from traditional livelihood.
India has a multi-layered society and
drinking habits differ greatly between the states. The state of Kerala apparently
have the heaviest drinkers where people drink an average of 8.3 litres per
capita which is four times the amount when compared to the rest of India.
Punjab and Haryana are the other two states where people have the habit of
drinking comparatively heavily whereas in some parts of the country, alcohol is
banned completely. Kerala is known for its highest per capita consumption of
alcohol in the country with a market that has grown from 12% to 67% during the
last three decades. The State Revenue from alcohol increased from Rs. 40.74
crores in 1988 to Rs. 7511 crores in 2014. The National Family Health Survey
2009 has found four common patterns of alcohol consumption in the state. They
are a) lowering the age limit for alcohol consumption b) increase in the number
of young alcohol users c) women started using alcohol and d) binge drinking.
Both studies and real life incidents show that there is a strong correlation
between alcoholism and crime. Surveys reveal that 25% of hospital casualties,
69% of crimes, 40% of road accidents, 80% of divorces and domestic violence
that are reported are linked to alcohol consumption.
Alcohol is calming and can have positive
health effects if consumed in moderate amounts. They include improved cardiac
functioning, reduced stroke incidences, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease,
arthritis, gall bladder diseases, type 2 diabetes, thyroid cancer, renal cell
carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma among many other ailments. However, the
story is totally different when it is consumed excessively and frenziedly. Indians
prefer distilled spirits and hard liquors over beer which shows that the
majority drink beverages with a high concentration of alcohol. There is a
growing tendency among Indians to engage in ‘binge drinking’ and purposely get
drunk. It is the most hazardous pattern of drinking where the person consumes
an excessive amount of alcohol in a short span of time. The major health
problems due to excessive alcohol intake are a) slows down digestion b) causes
gastritis and ulcer c) increases chances of cancer d) fatty liver and alcoholic
hepatitis e) permanent damage of liver f) slows down brain functioning g)
affects judgement and coordination h) causes depression, poor memory and
concentration i) psychiatric disorders j) cardiovascular diseases k) pancreatic
disorders l) malnutrition m) sexual problems n) degeneration of muscles, o) fetal
alcohol syndrome in unborn children, etc. Alcoholism damages the entire organs
of the body and completely destroys its very existence.
Men – young and old, educated and
uneducated lined up in “military discipline”
in front of a Kerala State Beverages
Corporation outlet.
Apart from causing severe health problems,
heavy drinking makes people susceptible to crimes such as rapes, domestic violence,
etc., struggle with profession, live in poverty, and experience relationship
issues. The effects of alcoholism on families has long term consequences which
are difficult to overcome. Partners go through a devastating situation and
suffer from poor communication, stress, increased anger and distress, lack of
intimacy, marital abuse, financial shortage, etc. Children who live with their
father or mother who are alcohol addicts can have chronic depression, low
self-esteem, high levels of anxiety, stress, fear of abandonment, and feelings
of dejection. Once these children become adults, these effects continue to influence
their lives which often end up in relationship issues. Women who drink during
pregnancy can cause the babies to be born with irreversible physical and mental
birth defects. Underage drinking (consumption of alcohol before the legal age
limit) has become very common in India. Adolescent drinking can seriously
affect the normal development of mind and body. The habit develops into
alcoholism and can be related to teen suicide. It tempts them to use harder
drugs, encourages sexual promiscuity, makes victims to perform badly in school
or college, etc.
India is one among the rare countries where
prohibition of alcohol is included in the national constitution as one of the
directive principles of state policy. Article 47 of the Constitution of India
states that, “the state shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the
consumption except for medical purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs
which are injurious to health.” The production and sale of alcoholic beverages in
India is controlled by the respective Governments of the states. Some of the
states such as Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, has implemented prohibition taking
into consideration the harmful effects caused by alcoholism and the popular
demand from women and the rural inhabitants. However, economic difficulties and
political intervention had caused the Governments to annul their policies. The
production of alcohol bring in huge amount of revenue to the Governments with
some states benefiting more than 10% of their revenue from this source. Total
prohibition of alcohol is not practical. It adversely affects revenue and
tourism, may result in crime and corruption, and encourages binge drinking. People
who are addicted to alcohol will depend on adulterated beverages and shoddy
alcohol consumption in hiding. Adulteration of alcohol causes alcohol poisoning
that leads to blindness and even death. History has shown us that making
something a taboo is not a remedy; it only makes the forbidden fruit more
tempting.
There should be effective regulatory policies
to reduce the per capita consumption of alcohol and availability of alcoholic
beverages in the country. The option of buying unlimited alcoholic beverages
should be restricted and a rationing system should be introduced. The opening
times of beverages outlets should also be minimised which would control alcohol
access to youth. Drunken driving, drinking in public places, nuisance caused by
drunkenness, etc. should be punished strictly and levied with a fine. Every
medium of entertainment such as satellite channels, radio, movies, music, etc.
should stop endorsing alcoholic beverages and selling brand names. The sale and
consumption of adulterated alcohol should be checked regularly and penalised. We
require more well-trained physicians who have knowledge on efficacy of
de-addiction drugs, psychological and vocational therapies. Both Government and
private stake holders should organise alcohol awareness programmes to educate
the public on sensible drinking, alcohol consumption limits, legislation, and
negative effects of alcohol on the mind and body.
Check for yourselves. You have a drinking
problem if you a) regularly drink more than you used to b) resort to drinking
in order to relax or feel better c) forget what you did while you were drunk d)
feel guilty about your drinking habit e) hide your drinking habits, and f) have
family or friends worried about your drinking.
Alcohol is a toxic substance. It affects
you. Know your limits.
