Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: How much of India consumes liquor?
Mains level: Impact of liquor consumption over society
Why in the News?
Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Kerala are considering or have considered allowing doorstep delivery of alcohol through platforms such as Swiggy, BigBasket, and Zomato.
Arguments in favour of Online Delivery of Alcohol:
- Revenue Generation: Excise taxes on alcohol sales can help generate significant revenue for Central and State governments.
- Reduce Drunk-Driving Incidents: Doorstep delivery can potentially reduce drunk-driving incidents and prevent road traffic crashes and injuries.
- Access and Safety for Women: Doorstep delivery may reduce on-premise violence against women and allow women to access alcohol without facing social stigma.
Arguments against Online Delivery of Alcohol:
- Economic Costs vs. Benefits: The costs due to alcohol use often exceed the economic benefits from alcohol sales.
- Increased Consumption and Binge Drinking: The availability of alcohol on-demand can increase consumption, promote binge drinking, and lead to alcohol-related harms.
- Public Health Concerns: Alcohol is associated with various health risks including cancers, mental illnesses, liver disease, and increased risk of inter-partner violence.
Consumption of Liquor in India:
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Can such a system make it safer for women to access alcohol?
- Doorstep delivery may help women access alcohol without dealing with social stigma.
- There is some evidence that it could reduce on-premise violence against women, as seen in Kerala. However, domestic violence related to alcohol use is rampant, and the overall safety of women cannot be presumed.
How should governments regulate liquor consumption? (Way forward)
- Restrict Availability and Marketing: Implement policies to limit the availability and marketing of alcohol.
- Higher Taxes: Increase taxes on alcohol to deter consumption and generate revenue.
- Enforce Drunk-Driving Laws: Strengthen the enforcement of drunk-driving laws with stringent penalties.
- Invest in Treatment Programs: Allocate funds for psychosocial treatments of alcohol-use disorders and mental health initiatives.
- Monitor and Evaluate Impact: Governments should work with health departments to monitor and evaluate the impact of doorstep delivery on alcohol consumption and revise policies if necessary.
- Uniform Policy Standards: Develop more uniform policy standards and ensure better implementation grounded in public health priorities over revenue generation.
Mains question for practice:
Q Analyze the trends in alcohol consumption in India over the past two decades. How has this trend impacted public health and social dynamics? 10M
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