Liquor Prohibition In Kerala - A Few Points To Think

 

After a lot of dramas and hot discussions, Chief Minister of Kerala announced complete prohibition of liquor in Kerala. Kerala is not the first state to bring Liquor prohibition to action. Gujarat, Nagaland, Lakshadweep and parts of Manipur have already implemented it and Kerala government has decided to make Kerala ‘Alcohol free’ in phased manner. Though many NGOs and other organizations have warmly welcomed this decision and announced their open support, it’s not an easy path for government to completely bring prohibition into action. A question also arises with it. Is this decision wise? Was there no alternative? Through this article I would like to point reader’s attention to a few more such questions.

 

Kerala Government has decided not to renew the license of existing 418 bar hotels and liquor will be available in 5 star hotels only. In the coming ten 10 years, government outlets will be closed 10% every year. After 10 years Kerala will be alcohol free. A nice and cool thing to hear! Yes, how would it look like if all people are free of intoxication and work for a better tomorrow! What a pleasant morning it would be, when every person feels good to wake up and work in a healthy way free of liver diseases? How pleasant the housewives and other members of the family would be, if the master of home returns home early and spent his precious money and time for some good things? Won’t it improve the financial set up of the family? Yes, of course. Then less divorces may occur; less suicides and accidents and of course less violence in society.

 

But I fear, if alcohol is completely prohibited in the state, won’t people choose some alternative methods like drugs. A few days back I was shocked to read in newspaper – an 18-year boy from Kollam used to regularly take bits from poisonous snake for intoxication. “It gives a unique feeling, good sleep and intoxication for the next four or five days” – he tells. It’s human nature to find some alternative to everything he feels pleasant. So, if alcohol is prohibited he may search for other methods. I fear it may also give rise to illegal alcohol production that may claim thousands of lives.

 

In my opinion, it would have been better to bring some control in the alcohol consumption rather than completely prohibiting it. Now government outlets serve foreign liquor in cheap rates. Why can’t they increase its prices so that people will automatically bring down its consumption? If so, people won’t spend too much money to buy them frequently. Why can’t restrictions be provided in the selling of such things? Before I conclude let me add two more things. Already Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have decided to open more outlets in their state borders to provide alcohol to Keralites. Also, as excise is the main source of income for the state and government has decided not to earn revenue through this, they have decided to increase tax on every selling product of Kerala, to compensate its losses. So, we Keralites, are we truly benefitted with this move? If government implements this in action, lower and middle classes are definitely going to suffer.      

Article Posted By : Sandhya RanilView All Articles

Was it the right decision? I am not sure

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Liquor Prohibition in Kerala

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