Liquor policy mooted following smoking ban

By Rajesh Khongbantabam *

Concerned by increased rates of diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, cancer and strokes, India's health minister Dr Ambumani Ramadoss is planning a new health agenda to protect the country's youth from the ill-effects of changing lifestyle patterns, increased alcohol consumption and stress.

Having already imposed a smoking ban, Dr Ramadoss wants to develop a national liquor policy that would encourage state governments to pass laws banning the sale of alcohol to young boys and girls.

"Today, even adolescents of 13 and-a-half years old are taking to drinking," Dr Ramadoss said during a recent speech.

When asked if it would be possible to implement such policies considering the widespread availability of alcohol, the health minister said he believed it was "not impossible."

"If the Gujarat government can adopt 'prohibition' successfully, so can other states. Only a will is required. Besides, I am not blaming the sale of alcohol," Dr Ramadoss said, adding that he only planned to ban the sale of alcohol to minors.

Dr Ramadoss said his policies were hardly revolutionary and that it was his duty to take up issues of public health in India.

"I would like the centre as well as all the states to show an adherence in 'true letter and spirit' to article 47 of the constitution according to which it is the 'duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties'."

But India's central government cannot do much about the sale and consumption of alcohol because it falls under the jurisdiction of state authorities. The minister has also overlooked the fact that information no legislation is likely to decrease alcohol consumption.

We have had enough of harsh legislation, including the NDPS Act, which has led to incarcerations but no tangible decrease in drug use, and the controversial sections of the 377 and ITPA acts.

Manipur has been declared a 'dry state' and yet alcohol is everywhere and the black market is thriving. Hopefully the ministry, in its enthusiasm for public attention and accolades, will avoid giving out licenses to fill their personal coffers.