By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 7, 2015 : Demand for review of the state’s excise policy in Odisha is getting louder with thousands of women demanding total ban on sale of liquor.

Alcohol prohibition in India is in force in the states of Gujarat, Nagaland and parts of Manipur; as well as in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Kerala has been implementing prohibition in a phased manner since 2014. Bihar has announced a ban on alcohol sale starting 1 April 2016. All other Indian states and union territories permit the sale of alcohol.

Now senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik on Monday has asked the Odisha government for a comprehensive review of the state’s excise policy.

“When such a large number of women complain that consumption of liquor has led to rise in domestic violence and the economic ruination of many families, the Odisha government should not be insensitive to the demand voiced by them. At the same time, the government needs to consider the real apprehension that prohibition may not work because of smuggling from nearby states and illicit distillation of liquor within the state.

Unless there is a national policy on prohibition and neighboring states are on board, prohibition may be ineffective and this needs to be looked at seriously by the Central Government,” Mr Patnaik said.

In fact, a failed prohibition may increase the risk of hooch tragedy while generating huge amounts of slush money benefitting mafia and corrupt officials entrusted with enforcement, he said.

“We cannot also ignore the fact that for many in tribal communities consumption of various local brew may be part of their culture, which have to be respected. These people cannot be left to face police and excise officials,” the veteran Congress leader said.

The demand for liquor, he observed, must be reduced by launching awareness programmes and liquor addicts must be helped by opening de-addiction centers in every sub-division.

“Without reducing demand and proper measures to enforce a ban hardly will society benefit while government will lose revenue. Ministers and political leaders should first accept prohibition in their personal lives to provide moral strength to the prohibition effort,” he stated.

The State should also study the polices now adopted in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where the sale of Arrack has led to increase in revenue as well as decrease in incidence of deaths associated with spurious liquor.

The world is moving away from viewing alcoholism and addictions as crime. Many Governments are decriminalizing substance abuse and beginning to view them as public health and social issues. Excise policy is not merely an enforcement activity to be handed over to Excise or Police Departments and there is a need for involving other departments like Health and Welfare for evolving a comprehensive strategy.

The former Minister has said that different dimensions of excise policy are complicated and there is a need for matured deliberation across political parties, health professional and social activists. The former state Congress Chief has advised the Government to start a consultation process to evolve a consensus on the demand for policy changes and enforcement of prohibition in the state.