Illegal Liquor
The recent deaths in West Bengal has brought back into reckoning the age old problem of illegal liquor. On the surface, it might appear benign but recent studies have proved the deteriorating effect it has on a society. Its prevalence in many states of India and also many countries suggests the difficulty involved to curb it. Illegal liquor is locally brewed alcohol at illicit breweries, that is sold at cheap prices at license-less shops, devoid the state imposed tax on alcohol. The evading of tax is responsible for its cheap price which further accounts for its widespread consumption in rural areas and by the wokring class in urban areas. As a matter of fact, two-thirds of the alcohol consumed in the country is illegal hooch made in remote villages or smuggled liquor, according to The Lancet medical journal. This popularity among the working class is why illegal liquor is a lucrative business and is practiced through out India, especially in Punjab, uttarakand, Kerala and West Bengal.
Why is it dangerous?
Illegal liquor also called hooch contains ingredients such as battery acid and methyl alcohol, a chemical solvent used as furniture polish, that adds potency to the drink but leads to dizziness, vomiting, and in extreme cases, blindness or death. The methyl alcohol is added to enhance the punch. Also, methyl alcohol is present in small quantities in industry grade ethyl alcohol, which is bought by local vendors at nominal prices to produce hooch. Studies prove that the availability of illegal liquor at minimal cost is also responsible for a increase in domestic abuse, rape and other acts of violence.
The sale of illegal liquor goes on despite strict laws against spurious liquor because corrupt police, local officials and tax authorities all get a cut of the profits and politicians patronise ring leaders of illicit liquor trade for their petty gains. While law enforcement agencies must step up their campaign to eliminate illicit liquor trade, it is also necessary to ensure easy access of safer liquor.
There are approaches to tackle illegal liquor, but they come with their own cons. For example, the Tamil Nadu government has recently taken over liquor distribution, unlike in other states where the government issues licenses to private parties. Though this has managed to keep illegal liquor at bay, it has increased the availability of alcohol to people belonging to all strata of the society, thus in a way causing a significant rise in the consumption of alcohol. As is clearly evident, the issue of illegal liquor should be addressed in a careful and multi-pronged way.
South Africa recently has adopted a very meticulous and well-planned strategy to fight against illegal liquor. This strategy involves:
1) Tackling informal outfits
This involves gathering the local vendors and imparting knowledge to them, and giving them an aopportunity to develop skills to find alternatives to sell alcohol.
2) Tightening up license
This involves involving the public and local municipalities while issuing licenses to private vendors. Also, giving the municipalities the power to revoke licenses, and the public to appeal to the courts without the requirement of any personal expense.
3) Using by-laws effectively
This involves assuring that liquor stalls are opened up only in commercial centers and not close to housing zones. This would reduce, to an extent their, accessibility. Also, liquor stalls would have to closed after 11 p.m in the night.
4) Regulating public spaces
This ensures that liquor stalls are not close to play-grounds or parks, in order to preven these from becoming an unappealing and unhygienic gathering spot for the drunk and criminally inclined. Also, this ensures that drinking liquor is banned at public places.
Why is it dangerous?
Illegal liquor also called hooch contains ingredients such as battery acid and methyl alcohol, a chemical solvent used as furniture polish, that adds potency to the drink but leads to dizziness, vomiting, and in extreme cases, blindness or death. The methyl alcohol is added to enhance the punch. Also, methyl alcohol is present in small quantities in industry grade ethyl alcohol, which is bought by local vendors at nominal prices to produce hooch. Studies prove that the availability of illegal liquor at minimal cost is also responsible for a increase in domestic abuse, rape and other acts of violence.
The sale of illegal liquor goes on despite strict laws against spurious liquor because corrupt police, local officials and tax authorities all get a cut of the profits and politicians patronise ring leaders of illicit liquor trade for their petty gains. While law enforcement agencies must step up their campaign to eliminate illicit liquor trade, it is also necessary to ensure easy access of safer liquor.
There are approaches to tackle illegal liquor, but they come with their own cons. For example, the Tamil Nadu government has recently taken over liquor distribution, unlike in other states where the government issues licenses to private parties. Though this has managed to keep illegal liquor at bay, it has increased the availability of alcohol to people belonging to all strata of the society, thus in a way causing a significant rise in the consumption of alcohol. As is clearly evident, the issue of illegal liquor should be addressed in a careful and multi-pronged way.
South Africa recently has adopted a very meticulous and well-planned strategy to fight against illegal liquor. This strategy involves:
1) Tackling informal outfits
This involves gathering the local vendors and imparting knowledge to them, and giving them an aopportunity to develop skills to find alternatives to sell alcohol.
2) Tightening up license
This involves involving the public and local municipalities while issuing licenses to private vendors. Also, giving the municipalities the power to revoke licenses, and the public to appeal to the courts without the requirement of any personal expense.
3) Using by-laws effectively
This involves assuring that liquor stalls are opened up only in commercial centers and not close to housing zones. This would reduce, to an extent their, accessibility. Also, liquor stalls would have to closed after 11 p.m in the night.
4) Regulating public spaces
This ensures that liquor stalls are not close to play-grounds or parks, in order to preven these from becoming an unappealing and unhygienic gathering spot for the drunk and criminally inclined. Also, this ensures that drinking liquor is banned at public places.
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