S.S.

JAIN SUBODH LAW COLLEGE

MANSAROVAR, JAIPUR

Session: 2020-2021

SUBJECT: GENERAL ENGLISH

TOPIC: ALCOHOL ADDICTION

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Dr. Prerna Agarwal Shivam Gupta

Assistant Professor B.A. L.L.B. Student

(Faculty of English) 1st Semester

DECLARATION
I, Shivam Gupta, do hereby declare that, this paper/project/dissertation titled "ALCOHOL
ADDICTION" is an outcome of the research conducted by me under the guidance of Mrs.
Prerna Agarwal (Asst. Prof. of Law) at S.S. Jain Subodh Law College in fulfilment for the
award of the degree of B.A. L.L.B. at the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University, Jaipur.

I also declare that, this work is original, except where assistance from other sources has been
taken and necessary acknowledgements for the same have been made at appropriate places. I
further declare that, this work has not been submitted either in whole or in part, for any
degree or equivalent in any other institution.

DATE:

PLACE:

SHIVAM GUPTA

CERTIFICATE
 To whomsoever it may concern

This is to certify that, the paper/project/dissertation titled "ALCOHOL ADDICTION"

submitted by Shivam Gupta in fulfilment for the award of the degree of B.A. L.L.B. at S.S.
Jain Subodh Law College is the product of research carried out under my guidance and
supervision.

Mrs. Prerna Agarwal

Asst. Prof. of Law

S.S. Jain Subodh Law College

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I acknowledge with profundity, my obligation to almighty God and my parents for giving me
the grace to accomplish my work without which this project would not have been possible.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to my respected faculty, Mrs. Prerna Agarwal (Asst. Prof. of
Law) for providing me with valuable suggestions to complete this dissertation.

I am especially grateful to all my faculty members at S.S. Jain Subodh Law College who
have helped me imbibe the basic research and writing skills.

Lastly, I take upon myself, the drawbacks and limitations of this study, if any.

Date:

Place:

Shivam Gupta

INTRODUCTION
Alcohol affects people in different ways. Some people can enjoy a glass of wine with food
and drink moderate amounts of alcohol in social settings without any problems. Having one
or fewer drinks per day for women and two or fewer drinks per day for men is considered
moderate drinking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted
Source.

Drinking alcohol too much or too often, or being unable to control alcohol consumption, can
be a sign of a larger problem. Two different issues that some people can develop are alcohol
abuse or alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependency.

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are marked differences. People
who abuse alcohol drink too much on occasion and their drinking habits often result in risky
behavior and poor judgment. But alcohol abusers generally aren’t dependent on alcohol.
Alcoholism, on the other hand, means a person needs alcohol to get through their day.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that about 18 million people in
the United States struggle with alcohol use disorders. These disorders can be disruptive and
life-threatening.

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can cause serious health conditions. Alcohol worsens certain
disorders, such as osteoporosis. It can lead to certain cancers. Alcohol abuse also makes it
difficult to diagnose other health issues, such as heart disease. This is due to the way alcohol
affects the circulatory system.

ALCOHOL ADDICTION
Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, occurs when the individual has a drive to use alcohol,
regardless of the unwanted consequences. Addiction is different from dependence:
dependence is a physiological process while addiction is psychological. Though they can
occur separately, they usually emerge at the same time.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), alcohol addiction, or alcohol use
disorder (AUD), is considered a mental health disorder in which the drug causes lasting
changes in the brain’s functioning. These changes make continued use and relapse more
likely in the future. Because symptoms can range from mild to severe in intensity, alcoholism
can create numerous effects on someone’s mental, physical, social and spiritual health.

Many variables and individual differences increase the risk of alcohol abuse and alcohol
addiction. Some of the most prevalent risk factors for alcohol addiction include:

 Binge drinking and heavy drinking

 Drinking before age 15
 Genetics and a family history of alcohol problems
 Co-occurring mental health conditions, like depression, anxiety, personality disorders
and schizophrenia
 History of traumatic experiences

Not everyone who abuses alcohol will develop an addiction, but as use continues, the risk
grows.

INDIAN PERSPECTIVE
Alcohol abuse has significant individual, familial and social costs. Long term and/or chronic
alcohol use has been associated with liver cirrhosis, liver disease, lip, oral cavity and pharynx
cancers and heart disease (WHO, 2004). Additionally, intoxication increases risk for road
traffic accidents, poisoning and intentional and unintentional injury. Globally alcohol causes
3.2% of all deaths or 1.8 million deaths annually and accounts for 4.0% of disease burden
(WHO 2007). This section examines what is known about the impact of alcohol on the health
and lives of individuals and families in India Cancela, Ramdas, Fayette, Thomas, Muwonge,
Chapuis, Thara et. al. (2009) interviewed 32,347 participants to evaluate the role of alcohol
drinking and patterns of consumption in oral cancer incidence and mortality in 13
panchayats6 in Trivandrum district in Kerela. They found that incidence of oral cancer
increased by 49% among current drinkers and 90% among past drinkers than among never
drinkers. Current and past drinkers in this study were also more likely to be tobacco smokers
and betel- quid chewers than never drinkers. Further, it was reported that the risk of dying
from oral cavity cancer was significantly increased among alcoholics in this study. Other
studies in Indian have found alcohol consumption to be a risk factor in for cardiovascular
diseases (Kusuma, Babu & Naidu 2009) and oral submucous bibrosis (Hashibe,
Sankaranarayanan, Thomas, Kuruvilla & Matthews 2002). Alcohol use has also significantly
associated with injury. India has one of the most stringent Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
count allowed for drivers yet in a study by the National Institute of Mental Health and
Neurosciences, India it was found that in the city of Bangalore alone, 18-25% of the road
injuries are attributable to driving under the influence of alcohol (NIMHANS, 2007).
Benegal, Gururaj, Murthy, Taly, Kiran, Chandrashekar., R & Chandrashekar, H. (2007)
sampled 658 injury cases reported to the Emergency Department (ED) of the largest and most
reputed general hospital in Bangalore. The injuries represented more than half (54.5%) of all
cases seen at the ED during the study period. A high proportion of injuries were found to be
alcohol related. It was found that 23.7% of all subjects presenting for treatment of injuries
had consumed alcohol prior to the injury occurrence. Of these, 17.9% had BAC readings of .
03 and over, which is the legal limit for driving in India. 77.5% patients who reported alcohol
use prior to the current injury were also significantly more likely to have had repeated
admissions to the ED in the past. Further, subjects who had drunk prior to injury were
significantly more likely to drink five or more drinks per sitting, more than 3-4 times a week
than subjects without alcohol use prior to injury. An important gender difference related to
indirect alcohol related injury was observed in this study. Of those reported injuries indirectly
related to alcohol (use by others) 57% were female and 59% male. Injuries indirectly related
to alcohol among women included injuries due to burns, hanging, poisoning and assault. The
researchers point out that in the Indian context, a large proportion of burn injuries are not
accidental burns but assault and homicidal attempts on women by male relatives. In a family
where a woman is already being harassed for dowry, birth of a girl child or lack of male
child/ren, alcohol abuse by the husband is likely to intensify physical, emotional and financial
abuse (Benegal, Gururaj, Murthy, Taly, Kiran, Chandrashekar., R & Chandrashekar, H. 2007)
A number of studies on domestic violence suggest that while alcohol abuse by the spouse
may not be the primary cause of domestic violence, it increases women’s vulnerability to
violence perpetrated by her spouse or partner. Varma, Chandra, Thomas & Carey (2007)
interviewed 203 women attending an antenatal clinic in a public hospital in Bangalore to
assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence and sexual coercion and its mental health
consequences among pregnant women. 30 of 203 women in this study reported experiencing
physical and psychological violence. Further, of these 30 women 15 reported ongoing
violence during pregnancy.

CAUSES FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Since there isn’t one exact cause of alcoholism, experts instead identify “risk factors” as
potentials for development. Professionals believe that these factors may play a role in the
development of alcohol use disorders as they have been evident in the lives of many
individuals who suffer from alcohol dependence and addiction.

Risk factors can be environmental, biological, and psychological. While the presence of these
factors does not guarantee that a person will develop an alcohol use disorder, it’s important to
be aware of the circumstances and components that can lead alcoholism in some cases.

1. FAMILY HISTORY

Family history plays a large part in what causes alcoholism. You’re more likely to develop an
addiction if a parent or relative has dealt with alcohol use disorder. Although there isn’t one
true gene that causes alcoholism, many scientists believe that several genes are responsible
for about half the risk of developing it. People with these genes are also more likely to misuse
alcohol if they also deal with social and psychological influences related to addiction.

A history of alcoholism among your relatives is both a biological and genetic factor, but it
can also be environmental. Alcoholism doesn’t necessarily have to run in your family for you
to become addicted. Simply being around family members who drink frequently can cause
you to start doing the same. They can glamorize heavy drinking and make it seem acceptable,
so you’ll feel better about doing it as well.

2. DRINKING FROM AN EARLY AGE

The earlier you start to drink, the more likely you are to develop a dependence on alcohol,
especially if you’re under 15 years old. You might become used to drinking when you start
young.

This rings true for young adults who binge drink in high school and college. The general
period of alcohol use begins in the late teens, then peaks in the 20s and finally slows down in
the early 30s. Drinking from an early age can cause long-term problems that can even go into
your 40s and 50s.

While you can begin misusing alcohol no matter how old you are, starting to drink at a young
age will increase your chances of developing alcoholism. 

To prevent alcoholism from beginning at an early age, parents should encourage alcohol
prevention at this time. They need to teach their children about the dangers of heavy
drinking at a young age so they can avoid developing bad habits in the future.

3. MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Having schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder can be frustrating

and difficult. People with mental health disorders tend to drink to mitigate their symptoms
and feel better. Even if alcohol temporarily eases symptoms of depression and anxiety,
drinking frequently can lead to a high tolerance and, eventually, alcoholism. On top of that,
alcohol can actually make mental health symptoms worse at times. 
People with mental health disorders may also feel too ashamed to seek help. They might feel
that turning to alcohol is easier since they fear others may judge them for their mental illness. 

About one-third of people with a mental health disorder are also struggling with alcoholism.
People with both a mental health disorder and alcoholism end up having what’s known as co-
occurring disorders. These have serious side effects that can inflict long-term physical and
psychological damage on your body. To effectively treat both of them, licensed clinicians
must look at each disorder simultaneously.

4. STRESSFULL ENVIRONMENTS

Stress at work or at home can drive people to drink. People who work long hours and have
high-demand careers like doctors, nurses, lawyers and construction workers are more likely
to develop alcoholism as they drink to keep stress at bay. Studies show that stressed men are
1.5 more likely to binge drink than women. Those recovering from alcoholism might also
find stress to be an emotional trigger and end up relapsing. 

Drinking away stress is part of what causes alcoholism. Finding a healthier way to manage
your stress is key to avoiding dependence.

5. TAKING ALCOHOL WITH MEDICATION

Mixing prescription drugs with alcohol is a common practice among individuals struggling
with substance use disorder. Alcohol can mess with medication and people can become
addicted to the pleasurable effects caused by drinking and prescription drugs. 

Unfortunately, mixing prescription drugs and alcohol can lead to a variety of health
problems, including:

 Blood pressure change

 Heart damage
 Dizziness
 Nausea
 Changes in behaviors, emotions or mental state

It can also lead to loss of coordination, which leads to accidents. There is also a high risk of
overdose when combining alcohol with prescription drugs. Make sure to call 911 if you ever
witness this happening to someone.

6. PEER PRESSURE

Kids in high school and college feel the need to be “cool,” accepted and like they’re in on the
fun. Heavy drinking has long been considered an acceptable practice among teens and young
adults ages 18 to 34, and keeping that drinking going past this age is a factor in what causes
alcoholism.  

Peer pressure doesn’t just happen at a young age, either. Drinking has been a socially
acceptable practice all over the world for many years, and adults can feel pressure to be part
of this. Media also glorifies drinking among people of all ages. 
7. FREQUENT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION OVER TIME

What causes alcoholism can be as simple as drinking too much over time. Building up a
tolerance to alcohol requires you to drink more and more to get the same feeling. When you
start drinking too much over time, you’re at a higher risk of developing alcoholism. This can
start with binge drinking as a teenager or young adult. 

8. TRAUMA

Childhood abuse and domestic or sexual abuse are likely to mentally scar anyone, and these
are high-risk factors for alcohol use disorder. When you don’t properly address past abuse in
therapy, you might turn to heavy drinking to temporarily feel better about your situation. This
is a dangerous practice, as it turns into a destructive cycle. 

To better deal with trauma and move past it, talk to a therapist. He or she will talk to you
about how these incidents have affected you long-term, and you’ll learn how to cope with
trauma without turning to alcohol.

9. SELF-MEDICATING: DRINKING TO COPE

If you’ve lost a loved one, gotten divorced or got fired from your job, you’re likely dealing
with grief, pain and loss. These are all emotions that can cause people to drink. For the time
being, alcohol might make you feel joyful and carefree, but if you develop alcoholism, your
grief and pain will get worse. 

People tend to self-medicate because it’s convenient and less expensive than going to a
doctor or psychologist. In addition, the internet has become a widely available resource for
information. People visit websites like WebMD to research their symptoms, but this is not
how they should go about a self-diagnosis. 

Self-medicating also happens when people are too scared to confront their feelings and talk to
someone about them. This is part of what causes alcoholism.

10. LACK OF FAMILY SUPERVISION

Someone who didn’t have present parents in their childhood or had a poor family foundation
is a prime candidate for alcoholism. A lack of support can lead to abandonment issues in
children, and they may turn to alcohol for comfort. 
 IMPACT OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Alcohol’s impact on your body starts from the moment you take your first sip. While an
occasional glass of wine with dinner isn’t a cause for concern, the cumulative effects of
drinking wine, beer, or spirits can take its toll.

DIGESTIVE and ENDOCRINE GLANDS

Drinking too much alcohol can cause abnormal activation of digestive enzymes produced by
the pancreas. Buildup of these enzymes can lead to inflammation known as pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis can become a long-term condition and cause serious complications.

INFLAMMATORY DAMAGE

The liver is an organ which helps break down and remove harmful substances from your
body, including alcohol. Long-term alcohol use interferes with this process. It also increases
your risk for chronic liver inflammation and liver disease. The scarring caused by this
inflammation is known as cirrhosis. The formation of scar tissue destroys the liver. As the
liver becomes increasingly damaged, it has a harder time removing toxic substances from
your body.

Liver disease is life-threatening and leads to toxins and waste buildup in your body. Women
are at higher risk for developing alcoholic liver disease. Women’s bodies are more likely to
absorb more alcohol and need longer periods of time to process it. Women also show liver
damage more quickly than men.

SUGAR LEVELS

The pancreas helps regulate your body’s insulin use and response to glucose. When your
pancreas and liver aren’t functioning properly, you run the risk of experiencing low blood
sugar, or hypoglycemia. A damaged pancreas may also prevent the body from producing
enough insulin to utilize sugar. This can lead to hyperglycemia, or too much sugar in the
blood.

If your body can’t manage and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience greater
complications and side effects related to diabetes. It’s important for people with diabetes or
hypoglycemia to avoid excessive amounts of alcohol.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

One of the easiest ways to understand alcohol’s impact on your body is by understanding
how it affects your central nervous system. Slurred speech is one of the first signs you’ve had
too much to drink. Alcohol can reduce communication between your brain and your body.
This makes coordination more difficult. You may have a hard time balancing. You should
never drive after drinking.

As alcohol causes more damage to your central nervous system, you may experience
numbness and tingling sensations in your feet and hands.

Drinking also makes it difficult for your brain to create long-term memories. It also reduces
your ability to think clearly and make rational choices. Over time, frontal lobe damage can
occur. This area of the brain is responsible for emotional control, short-term memory, and
judgement, in addition to other vital roles.

DEPENDENCY

Some people who drink heavily may develop a physical and emotional dependency on
alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be difficult and life-threatening. You often
need professional help to break an alcohol addiction. As a result, many people seek medical
detoxification to get sober. It’s the safest way to ensure you break the physical addiction.
Depending on the risk for withdrawal symptoms, detoxification can be managed on either an
outpatient or inpatient basis.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

The connection between alcohol consumption and your digestive system might not seem
immediately clear. The side effects often only appear after there has been damage. And the
more you drink, the greater the damage will become.

Drinking can damage the tissues in your digestive tract and prevent your intestines from
digesting food and absorbing nutrients and vitamins. As a result, malnutrition may occur. For
people who drink heavily, ulcers or hemorrhoids (due to dehydration and constipation) aren’t
uncommon. And they may cause dangerous internal bleeding. Ulcers can be fatal if not
diagnosed and treated early.

People who consume too much alcohol may also be at risk for cancer. People who drink
frequently are more likely to develop cancer in the mouth, throat, esophagus, colon, or liver.
People who regularly drink and use tobacco together have an even greaterTrusted
Source cancer risk.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Alcohol can affect your heart and lungs. People who are chronic drinkers of alcohol have a
higher risk of heart-related issues than people who do not drink. Women who drink are more
likely to develop heart disease than men who drink.

Difficulty absorbing vitamins and minerals from food can cause anemia. This is a condition
where you have a low red blood cell count. One of the biggest symptoms of anemia
is fatigue.

SEXUAL and REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

You may think drinking alcohol can lower your inhibitions and help you have more fun in
bed. But the reality is quite different. Men who drink too much are more likely to
experience erectile dysfunction. Heavy drinking can also prevent sex hormone production
and lower your libido.

Women who drink too much may stop menstruating. That puts them at a greater risk
for infertility. Women who drink heavily during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature
delivery, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

SKELETAL and MUSCLE SYSTEM

Long-term alcohol use may prevent your body from keeping your bones strong. This habit
may cause thinner bones and increase your risk for fractures if you fall. And factures may
heal more slowly.

Drinking alcohol may also lead to muscle weakness, cramping, and eventually atrophy.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Drinking heavily reduces your body’s natural immune system. This makes it more difficult
for your body to fight off invading germs and viruses.

People who drink heavily over a long period of time are also more likely to
develop pneumonia or tuberculosis than the general population.
 REDUCE THE HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL

1. Sustainable action requires strong leadership and a solid base of awareness and
political will and commitment. The commitments should ideally be expressed through
adequately funded comprehensive and intersectoral national policies that clarify the
contributions, and division of responsibility, of the different partners involved. The
policies must be based on available evidence and tailored to local circumstances, with
clear objectives, strategies and targets. The policy should be accompanied by a
specific action plan and supported by effective and sustainable implementation
and  evaluationmechanisms. The appropriate engagement of civil society and
economic operators is essential.
2. Health services are central to tackling harm at the individual level among those with
alcohol-use disorders and other health conditions caused by harmful use of alcohol.
Health services should provide prevention and treatment interventions to individuals
and families at risk of, or affected by, alcohol-use disorders and associated conditions.
Another important role of health services and health professionals is to inform
societies about the public health and social consequences of harmful use of alcohol,
support communities in their efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, and to
advocate effective societal responses. Health services should reach out to, mobilize
and involve a broad range of players outside the health sector. Health services
response should be sufficiently strengthened and funded in a way that is
commensurate with the magnitude of the public health problems caused by harmful
use of alcohol.
3. The impact of harmful use of alcohol on communities can trigger and foster local
initiatives and solutions to local problems. Communities can be supported and
empowered by governments and other stakeholders to use their local knowledge and
expertise in adopting effective approaches to prevent and reduce the harmful use of
alcohol by changing collective rather than individual behaviour while being sensitive
to cultural norms, beliefs and value systems.
4. Driving under the influence of alcohol seriously affects a person’s judgment,
coordination and other motor functions. Alcohol-impaired driving is a significant
public health problem that affects both the drinker and in many cases innocent parties.
Strong evidence-based interventions exist for reducing drink–driving. Strategies to
reduce harm associated with drink–driving should include deterrent measures that aim
to reduce the likelihood that a person will drive under the influence of alcohol, and
 measures that create a safer driving environment in order to reduce both the likelihood
and severity of harm associated with alcohol-influenced crashes.
5. Public health strategies that seek to regulate the commercial or public availability of
alcohol through laws, policies, and programmes are important ways to reduce the
general level of harmful use of alcohol. Such strategies provide essential measures to
prevent easy access to alcohol by vulnerable and high-risk groups. Commercial and
public availability of alcohol can have a reciprocal influence on the social availability
of alcohol and thus contribute to changing social and cultural norms that promotes
harmful use of alcohol. The level of regulation on the availability of alcohol will
depend on local circumstances, including social, cultural and economic contexts as
well as existing binding international obligations. In some developing and low- and
middle-income countries, informal markets are the main source of alcohol and formal
controls on sale need to be complemented by actions addressing illicit or informally
produced alcohol. Furthermore, restrictions on availability that are too strict may
promote the development of a parallel illicit market. Secondary supply of alcohol, for
example from parents or friends, needs also to be taken into consideration in measures
on the availability of alcohol.
6. Reducing the impact of marketing, particularly on young people and adolescents, is an
important consideration in reducing harmful use of alcohol. Alcohol is marketed
through increasingly sophisticated advertising and promotion techniques, including
linking alcohol brands to sports and cultural activities, sponsorships and product
placements, and new marketing techniques such as e-mails, SMS and podcasting,
social media and other communication techniques. The transmission of alcohol
marketing messages across national borders and jurisdictions on channels such as
satellite television and the Internet, and sponsorship of sports and cultural events is
emerging as a serious concern in some countries.
It is very difficult to target young adult consumers without exposing cohorts of
adolescents under the legal age to the same marketing. The exposure of children and
young people to appealing marketing is of particular concern, as is the targeting of
new markets in developing and low- and middle-income countries with a current low
prevalence of alcohol consumption or high abstinence rates. Both the content of
alcohol marketing and the amount of exposure of young people to that marketing are
crucial issues. A precautionary approach to protecting young people against these
marketing techniques should be considered.
7. Consumers, including heavy drinkers and young people, are sensitive to changes in
the price of drinks. Pricing policies can be used to reduce underage drinking, to halt
progression towards drinking large volumes of alcohol and/or episodes of heavy
 drinking, and to influence consumers’ preferences. Increasing the price of alcoholic
beverages is one of the most effective interventions to reduce harmful use of alcohol.
A key factor for the success of price-related policies in reducing harmful use of
alcohol is an effective and efficient system for taxation ma tched by adequate tax
collection and enforcement.
Factors such as consumer preferences and choice, changes in income, alternative
sources for alcohol in the country or in neighbouring countries, and the presence or
absence of other alcohol policy measures may influence the effectiveness of this
policy option. Demand for different beverages may be affected differently. Tax
increases can have different impacts on sales, depending on how they affect the price
to the consumer. The existence of a substantial illicit market for alcohol complicates
policy considerations on taxation in many countries. In such circumstances tax
changes must be accompanied by efforts to bring the illicit and informal markets
under effective government control. Increased taxation can also meet resistance from
consumer groups and economic operators, and taxation policy will benefit from the
support of information and awareness-building measures to counter such resistance.
8. This target area includes policy options and interventions that focus directly on
reducing the harm from alcohol intoxication and drinking without necessarily
affecting the underlying alcohol consumption. Current evidence and good practices
favour the complementary use of interventions within a broader strategy that prevents
or reduces the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication. In
implementing these approaches, managing the drinking environment or informing
consumers, the perception of endorsing or promoting drinking should be avoided.
9. Consumption of illicitly or informally produced alcohol could have additional
negative health consequences due to a higher ethanol content and potential
contamination with toxic substances, such as methanol. It may also hamper
governments’ abilities to tax and control legally produced alcohol. Actions to reduce
these additional negative effects should be taken according to the prevalence of illicit
and/or informal alcohol consumption and the associated harm. Good scientific,
technical and institutional capacity should be in place for the planning and
implementation of appropriate national, regional and international measures. Good
market knowledge and insight into the composition and production of informal or
illicit alcohol are also important, coupled with an appropriate legislative framework
and active enforcement. These interventions should complement, not replace, other
interventions to reduce harmful use of alcohol.
 POLICIES FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION CONTROL

One of the major questions about addiction is why it takes hold only in some people. The
changes in the brain associated with addiction do not progress in the same way in everyone
who uses alcohol or drugs. For a wide range of reasons that remain only partially understood,
some individuals are able to use alcohol or drugs in moderation and not develop addiction or
even milder substance use disorders, whereas others—between 4 and 23 percent depending
on the substance—proceed readily from trying a substance to developing a substance use
disorder.18
Understanding the factors that raise people’s risk for substance misuse (risk factors) and
those that may offer some degree of protection from these risks (protective factors) and then
using this knowledge to design interventions aimed at steering people away from substance
misuse are the goals of prevention science. Although research has shown strong heritability
of substance use disorder,19 we now know that individual, family, community, and
environmental risk factors play an important role in both substance misuse and substance use
disorders. Being raised in a home in which the parents or other relatives use alcohol or drugs,
for example, raises a child’s chances of trying these substances and of developing a substance
use disorder.20,21 Living in neighborhoods and going to schools where alcohol and drug use
are common, and associating with peers who use substances, are also risk factors.20,22,23
Another important risk factor is age at first use. The earlier people try alcohol or drugs, the
more likely they are to develop a substance use disorder. For instance, people who first use
alcohol before age 15 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol at some time
in their lives than are those who have their first drink at age 20 or older.26 Nearly 70 percent
of those who try an illicit drug before the age of 13 develop a substance use disorder in the
next 7 years, compared with 27 percent of those who first try an illicit drug after the age of
17.27 Although substance misuse problems can develop later in life, preventing or even just
delaying young people from trying substances is important for reducing the likelihood of
more serious problems later on.
Prevention interventions also aim to support or bolster protective factors, which give people
the resources and strengths they need to avoid substance use. Having strong and positive
family ties and social connections, being emotionally healthy, and having a feeling that one
has control over one’s successes and failures are all protective factors. Being satisfied with
one’s life, having a sense of a positive future ahead, and emotional resilience are other
examples of protective factors.28
Given the overwhelming tendency for substance use to begin in adolescence (ages 12 to 17)
and peak during young adulthood, most prevention interventions have focused on teens and
young adults. However, effective prevention policies and programs have been developed
across the lifespan, from infancy to adulthood. It is never too early and never too late to
prevent substance misuse and substance-related problems. A growing number of
interventions designed to reduce risk and enhance protective factors have been scientifically
tested and shown to improve substance use and other outcomes. These include interventions
for all age groups (including early childhood), for specific ethnic and racial groups, and for
groups at high risk for substance misuse, such as youth involved in the criminal justice
system. These interventions may focus all individuals in a group (universal interventions) or
specifically on at-risk individuals (selective interventions).
Importantly, interventions at the environmental or policy level can also be effective at
reducing substance use. This has been shown clearly with alcohol use (especially by minors)
and related problems such as drunk driving. Raising alcohol prices; limiting where, when,
and to whom alcohol can be sold; raising the legal purchase age; and increasing enforcement
of existing alcohol-related laws, such as the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 and
laws to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol, have successfully reduced negative
alcohol-related outcomes where they have been implemented. Higher alcohol taxes have also
been shown to reduce alcohol consumption.29 As a growing number of states allow marijuana
use recreationally30 or therapeutically, research is ongoing to learn about the effects of these
changes and policy levers that may mitigate potential harms, such as increased use by
adolescents or impaired driving.
Evidence-based prevention interventions can also address a wider range of potential problems
beyond just substance misuse. Alcohol and drug use among adolescents are typically part of a
larger spectrum of behavioral problems, including mental disorders, risky and criminal
behaviors, and difficulties in school. Many interventions address the common underlying risk
factors for these issues and show benefits across these domains, making them powerful and,
in many cases, highly cost-effective investments that pay off in reduced health care, law
enforcement, and other societal costs.
However, it must be evidence-based, and there is a need for an ongoing investment in
resources and infrastructure to ensure that prevention policies and programs can be
implemented faithfully, sustainably, and at sufficient scale to reap the rewards of reduced
substance misuse and its consequences in communities.
Alcohol is psychologically and physically addictive. Frequent drinking can lead to
alcoholism. The government tries to prevent alcohol abuse and alcoholism through laws and
public awareness.

There are several laws governing alcohol and alcohol consumption. The Licensing and
Catering Act sets rules about where alcohol may be sold, and prohibits the sale of alcohol to
anyone under the age of 18.

Local authorities check compliance with the Licensing and Catering Act.

Besides the Licensing and Catering Act, there are other rules and regulations on alcohol use
too:

 The Criminal Code says that it is a criminal offence to be drunk in public and to
disturb the public order while intoxicated.
 The Criminal Code also says that it is a criminal offence to serve alcohol to someone
who is obviously drunk.
 The Road Traffic Act sets limits for alcohol in the blood for drivers. The limit is
0.05% for drivers with a regular driving licence, and 0.02% for new drivers.
 The Media Act does not allow alcohol commercials to be broadcast on television and
radio between 6.00 and 21.00.
 INTERNATIONAL CONVECTION ON ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Among all the psychoactive substances which humans consume, alcohol ranks very high In
terms of the harms it causes. In the comparative risk analysis which was part of the recent
estimates of the Global Burden of Disease for 2010, alcohol ranked second only to tobacco in
harm to health.  And the GBD primarily measures harm to the health of the user.  But much
of the harm from alcohol is not to the drinker, but to others – whether family, friends or
strangers – and includes social as well as health harms.  The extent of this harm to others is at
the same order of magnitude as the harm to the drinker – much greater than the harm to
others from tobacco.  When the potential harm to others is taken into account, alcohol was
recently ranked by psychopharmacologists first among psychoactive substances in its
intrinsic harmfulness.
But for Europeans and Europe-derived societies, alcohol is “our drug”, intermingled for most
in daily life and economically and politically in agriculture and commerce.  So Europeans
have had a hard time facing up to the problems alcohol causes in a holistic way, and
considering it in the same policy framing as opiates or tobacco.  The result has been that,
alone among the globally used psychoactive substances, there is no international agreement
and control structure for alcohol. 
There are three main reasons why alcohol should be covered by an international treaty. First,
it is needed to take alcohol out of the category of being just another commodity in world
trade agreements and disputes. A recent example of this is the European Union, among the
parties in World Trade Organization negotiations on “technical barriers to trade”, objecting to
Thailand requiring graphic warning labels on alcoholic beverages in its domestic market. 
Second, it is needed to establish the principle of comity with respect to national alcohol
control policies – that states will not act to undercut another nation’s domestic policies, or
encourage such actions. Third, treaties like the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
or the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs set up a system of regular international
consultation and debate, building consensus and stimulating international action, as well as a
continuing secretariat charged with forwarding international action. The tobacco convention
is served by an international staff in the dozens and the drug treaties by staffs in the
hundreds.  In comparison, the international situation for alcohol is a disgrace: there are the
equivalent of maybe half a dozen fulltime positions at the World Health Organization
devoted to alcohol issues.
There are two main options for putting alcohol under coverage of an international treaty. One
is to begin on the process of adopting a Framework Convention on Alcohol.  While the
tobacco convention would be a good model to start from, an alcohol convention would need
to have some different provisions and language, reflecting the ways in which patterns of use
of alcohol and the range of harms from its use differ from those for tobacco.  As the tobacco
experience shows, adopting a Framework Convention will take time to accomplish.  And, as
the treaty’s name implies, this is not the end of the process: there will be a continuing process
thereafter of discussing and adopting protocols to implement and strengthen it.
The other option is to schedule alcohol as a controlled substance under the 1961 or 1971 drug
conventions.  This process starts with a systematic review by the WHO’s Expert Committee
on Drug Dependence. The report of the Committee’s meeting last June notes that at that
meeting the issue of “whether ethanol (ethyl alcohol) should be considered for pre-review”
by the Expert Committee was raised, and that “the Expert Committee referred this matter for
consideration at a future Expert Committee meeting”.
Major issues will arise in going down this track. The most dramatic would be a need to
amend the Convention under which alcohol was listed to allow the legalisation in controlled
domestic markets of sale and use other than for “medical or scientific purposes”.  Sarah
MacKay and I have recently completed work on what changes in the treaties would be
needed to accomplish this.  However, the work was not undertaken with alcohol specifically
in mind: the drug control system is presently facing circumstances, for instance regarding
cannabis, which are pushing it anyway in this direction.  Presuming these issues can be
solved, the provisions in the drug treaties controlling international trade and commerce in
controlled drugs are a workable and serviceable system for managing international trade in
hazardous commodities so that comity is maintained with respect to national alcohol control
and supply systems.
Pursuing each of these options will require a long-term commitment from those interested in
an international public health approach to alcohol issues.  Since it is not immediately
apparent which option is more likely to succeed, I think it would make sense for the moment
to pursue both.
 OTHER MEASURES

Prevent Alcohol Addiction by Not Keeping Alcoholic Beverages in Your Home

Having alcohol in your home increases the likelihood you’ll consume it. Just as someone
dieting would avoid stocking high-calorie treats, you should not have alcohol just a few steps
away when you’re trying to reduce your intake. Replace alcoholic beverages with alcohol-
free options like club soda or juice.

Prevent Alcohol Addiction by Avoiding Emotional Drinking

It’s common for people to turn to alcohol when they are feeling negative emotions. It’s also a
big part of celebrations when people are happy and feeling good. Using alcohol in either
situation can increase the likelihood of eventually developing a dependency or alcohol use
disorder.

Prevent Alcohol Addiction by Not Binge Drinking

If you’re the type of person who goes into a situation with alcohol intending to get “blackout
drunk,” it’s time to discuss your drinking behavior with a professional. If you accidentally
over-consume alcohol in social situations because of distraction or awkwardness, you can
implement strategies to avoid binging.

Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks, say no to activities that encourage
excessive drinking (like drinking games), and consider setting a specific limit on the number
of drinks you’ll have during any single occasion.

Prevent Alcohol Addiction by Avoiding Bars

Bars are a popular place to socialize with friends, families, and colleagues. But it’s tough to
avoid drinking when you’re in an environment dedicated to alcohol.

Even if you can order non-alcoholic drinks, spending time in bars increases the temptation to
drink. If you are concerned about developing a problem with alcohol, suggest alternate
activities when friends and other people want to socialize.

Peers influence drinking behavior for people of all ages. Spending time with heavy social
drinkers makes it more difficult to prevent alcoholism.

Preventing Alcohol Addiction in Young Adults

Underage drinking is a serious problem. It not only affects a young person’s short- and long-
term health, it also increases the risk that a person will develop an alcohol use disorder.
Teenage drinkers are more likely to binge drink and make bad choices when intoxicated,
including driving under the influence and engaging in risky or violent behavior.
 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Alcohol is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world, as it causes 1.8
million deaths (3.2% of all deaths) and accounts for 4% of the disease burden each year
(World Health Organization [WHO], 2004, 2011). It is well documented that alcohol use is
associated with a range of adverse outcomes (Baliunas, Rehm, Irving, & Shuper, 2010;
Fisher, 2010; Lönnroth, Williams, Stadlin, Jaramillo, & Dye, 2008; Rehm et al., 2009;
Swahn, Bossarte, & Sullivent, 2008; Tumwesigye & Kasirye, 2005, 2006; WHO, 2010;
Zablotska et al., 2006). Moreover, although data remain relatively limited, it is clear that the
disease burden related to alcohol use is especially high among low-income and middle-
income countries, where alcohol use rates are high due to limited implementation of public
health policies and prevention strategies (WHO, 2007). It is a growing concern that this
important public health problem remains largely unaddressed, especially in several of the
subSaharan countries which have among the highest alcohol per capita consumption rates
worldwide (WHO, 2004, 2011). In its 2011 global status report on alcohol, WHO outlined
alcohol monitoring and surveillance as key strategies for reducing the harmful use of alcohol
(WHO, 2011). To implement these strategies, particularly in low- and middle-income
countries, international collaborations can be particularly helpful and, indeed, instrumental.
Research conferences are one way in which these collaborations are fostered. A good
example is the thematic meeting of the Kettil Bruun Society for Social and Epidemiological
Research (KBS), which was held in Africa for the first time in 2010. The thematic focus of
that meeting was specifically on alcohol epidemiology and policy, and it presented a
groundbreaking opportunity for international and interdisciplinary interaction and exchange
on urgent and emerging alcohol-related issues, not only in Africa but also in other regions.
The meeting enjoyed great international representation with participants from 22 countries,
which greatly facilitated the exchange of global perspectives in alcohol research and
prevention efforts. The success of the conference created momentum and focused significant
attention on interdisciplinary and international research collaborations among representatives
from academic institutions, community-based organizations, research-focused institutions
and local and international government representatives, including WHO. Manuscripts
presented at that meeting were subsequently invited for consideration for publication in this
inaugural issue of the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research (IJADR). The six
articles included in this first issue that were also presented at the KBS meeting in 2010
outline intriguing advances in alcohol research across disciplinary approaches, populations
and countries. Two of the articles examine issues pertaining to alcohol use among Ugandan
populations, focusing specifically on socioeconomic determinants for heavy episodic
drinking among university students (Stafström & Agardh) and on alcohol intoxication before
last sexual intercourse among adults (Tumwesigye, Wanyenze, & Greenfield). These studies
demonstrate, respectively, that socioeconomic status is linked to heavy episodic drinking
among university students in Uganda and that alcohol consumption prior to sexual
intercourse is relatively prevalent among sexually active men and women. Another article
(Abikoye) presents the psycho-spatial predictors of hazardous drinking among drivers in
Nigeria, and illustrates that there are numerous important risk factors associated with
hazardous drinking in this group of drivers. A different scholarly approach is employed in
another article (Schmidt & Room), which examines the role of alcohol and inequity in the
process of development based on ethnographic research of alcohol use in low- and middle-
income countries. This study outlines the complexity of alcohol use as both a source and
symbol of political tension and social class division. A cross-cultural examination is
presented in an article (Wilsnack, Kristjanson, Wilsnack, & Benson) that examines distress
and drinking across 22 countries using data from Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An
International Study (GENACIS). Wilsnack and colleagues found that psychological and
interpersonal distress is linked to increased drinking, but that these associations were not
driven by societal-level characteristics. Another article (Holmila & Warpenius) examines a
community-based approach for the prevention of alcohol-related injuries used in Finland (the
Finnish Local Alcohol Policy; PAKKA). The intervention was evaluated using a quasi-
experimental design with pretest and post-test, and found important impact across outcome
measures, including reductions in alcohol availability to minors, increase in alcohol
abstinence among minors, and changes in attitudes and knowledge on alcohol control
measures. These studies will serve to inform the alcohol prevention research community and
emphasize the need for cross-cutting studies that traverse interdisciplinary boundaries and
methodologies to examine alcohol issues. It is with great anticipation that we look forward to
the annual KBS meeting in Kampala in 2013. The meeting will be an opportunity for further
dialogue and exchange on global and emerging issues related to alcohol and other substance
use, as well as a platform to articulate a vision for research in subSaharan Africa and other
low-income regions of the world. Many important and emerging priorities are outlined in the
articles presented in this issue and elsewhere, including alcohol marketing exposure; the role
of alcohol use in violence, injuries and HIV transmission; and alcohol use in vulnerable
populations, to list just a few examples (Swahn, Ali, Palmier, Sikazwe, & Mayeya, 2011;
Swahn, Ali, Palmier, Sikazwe, Twa-Twa, et al., 2011; Swahn, Palmier, Kasirye, & Yao,
2012; Tumwesigye & Kasirye, 2005; WHO, 2011). These and other topics can be discussed
at international meetings to illuminate important issues that require cross-cutting and
multisectoral interventions and action. It is of grave concern that alcohol and its adverse
consequences remain understudied, given that alcohol use is one of the most significant risk
factors for death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa. This problem is exacerbated by the fact
that several of the countries in this region have some of the highest per capita consumption
levels of alcohol in the world (Endal, 2009; WHO, 2004, 2011). Even more troubling is the
research indicating that Uganda has the highest prevalence of alcohol-related negative
consequences in cross-national comparative studies (Graham, Bernards, Knibbem, et al.,
2011; Graham, Bernards, Wilsnack, & Gmel, 2011). The prevalence and urgency of these
problems underscore the need for a more targeted vision for alcohol research, and also for the
need for evidence-based policies and prevention efforts across sub-Saharan Africa. This new
journal can serve as an important platform for the dissemination of new findings in research,
practice and policies that seek to address these issues. The journal, which is supported by
KBS, as well as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Ontario, Canada,
and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the United States, presents an exciting
new option for authors to publish their scholarship on alcohol and other drug use. Moreover,
the journal upholds a vision of promoting social and epidemiological research on alcohol and
fostering a comparative understanding of alcohol use and alcohol problems in a spirit of
international cooperation. The journal operates using an open access platform that is free of
charge to authors as well as to their intended audience.
 GLOBAL POLICIES
A global alcohol policy should consist of a set of principles and strategies for local, national
and international action aimed at reducing alcohol-related problems. Although much of the
action has to be taken at the national and subnational levels, in an increasingly globalized
world a consistent global public health message and effort is needed. WHO is uniquely fitted
to provide leadership in this field. An important task for WHO is to encourage the production
of data to fill major gaps in knowledge, particularly with respect to developing societies. To
set societal priorities, more evidence is required on the use of alcohol in relation to different
kinds of social and health harm. Precise data also often assist in developing political will for
action. In addition, detailed studies can suggest effective intervention points for diminishing
the harm from drinking. Particular attention should be directed to the impact of alcohol use
on women and families, given that men do more than three-quarters of the world’s drinking
while women and families bear many of the consequences . Another task for WHO is to
identify, document, publicize and build capacity in the implementation of effective strategies
across the whole range of interventions, and to evaluate and provide information and
assistance on alcohol control, prevention and treatment strategies. While the literature
evaluating different alcohol-related problems and prevention measures has burgeoned in
recent years, it does not cover a sufficiently broad range of societies. WHO can play a
valuable role in stimulating work on the evaluation of studies on alcohol policy in a wider
range of countries and in collating and disseminating the results. It is also necessary to
develop and disseminate practical advice and manuals on applying and institutionalizing
proven measures at newsites. A third task for WHO is to build and use mechanisms by which
the public health interest in alcohol production, trade and marketing may be taken into
account. In an increasingly global economy, alcohol controls are an international matter.
National alcohol controls, such as taxes and other restrictions on supply, are losing their
effectiveness as national borders become more permeable and the geographical reach of
particular marketers expands. The tendency in trade agreements and disputes for alcohol to be
treated in the same way as other commodities is leading to the erosion of national control
measures. It should be counteracted by international agreement on specific provisions
protecting restrictions on the market in the interest of public health. A need also exists for
international agreement on effective measures against alcohol smuggling and other
international violations of national control regimes. WHO’s thinking and experience
concerning the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control could be drawn on for workable
models and precedents.
 PREVAILING LAWS IN INDIA

Article 47 of the Constitution

of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution of India in its Directive Principles of State Policy, lays down
that it is the duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to
improve public health: The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the
standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary
duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the
consumption except for medicinal purpose of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are
injurious to health. The State Legislature has exclusive powers to make laws for the State
with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating liquor’ is listed as Item number 8 in List II. As alcohol is a
state subject, the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol is a state responsibility.
Different state ministries and departments regulate different aspects of alcohol. For example,
the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) oversees alcohol use prevention
programs, development of networks and capacity building for alcohol prevention and control
and monitoring. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and all other regulatory aspects of alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and the state excise departments. There is no
systematic coordination between these departments and therefore, there is no comprehensive
national data on the production and sale of alcohol. Only sporadic data through industry
annual reports and market research is available. Alcohol is regulated by state excise policies
that cover multi-dimensional issues of alcohol control, possession, production, manufacture,
selling, buying, and transport of liquor. There are two types of alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production and consumption of all kinds of alcohol; b) Partial prohibition
of some kinds of liquor, for example, a ban on the production and consumption of arrack in
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. A significant feature
that is consistent in all state excise policies is the declaration of dry days where no one can
sell liquor on certain days designated as dry days. While it is the prerogative of each state
government to decide on its dry days, national holidays like the Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and Election Day are dry days throughout India. In most states, the state
excise commissioner has the power to assign any other day as a dry day under the state excise
policy. Table 4 lists the analysis of excise policies of 30 states in India.

CONCLUSION
Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. While it carries connotations of pleasure and
sociability in the minds of many, harmful consequences of its use are diverse and widespread
From a global perspective, in order to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, policies need to
take into account specific situations in different societies. Average volumes consumed and
patterns of drinking are two dimensions of alcohol consumption that need to be considered in
efforts to reduce the burden of alcohol-related problems. Avoiding the combination of
drinking and driving is an example of measures that can reduce the health burden of alcohol.
Worlwide, alcohol takes an enormous toll on lives and communities, especially in developing
countries and its contribution to the overall burden of disease is expected to increase in the
future. Particularly worrying trends are the increases in the average amount of alcohol
consumed per person in countries such as China and India and the more harmful and risky
drinking patterns among young people.
National monitoring systems need to be developed to keep track of alcohol consumption and
its consequences, and to raise awareness amongst the public and policy-makers. It is up to
both governments and concerned citizens to encourage debate and formulate effective public
health policies that minimize the harm caused by alcohol.

It can be seen through the mentioned consequences that alcohol and drug abuse among young
people is indeed posing a problem in the society. However, these consequences are only small
pieces of the largest and the most important result of young people using drugs and alcohol.

The largest concern in emphasizing the young generation aspect is that they are the foundation,
upon which the future will be built. Governments and countries throughout history are trying to
erase many mistakes of the past by raising and encouraging a generation, which will have the most
propitious characteristics. These characteristics will allow them to keep the nation strong. This can
become quite difficult when this foundation is facing serious problems itself.

REFERENCES
 1. https://www.indianbarassociation.org/alcohol-consumption-in-india/
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315713554_Alcohol_marketing_and
_regulatory_policy_Environment_in_India
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7014857/
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157163#complications
5. https://www.addictiongroup.org/alcohol/addiction/prevention/
6. https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/executive-summary/report/prevention-
programs-and-policies
7. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/prevention.htm
8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/14659891003706415?
scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=ijsu20
9. https://sanalake.com/blog/the-10-most-common-causes-of-alcoholism/
10. https://www.greenfacts.org/en/alcohol/l-2/01-number-people-affected.htm

Article 47 of the Constitution

of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India.
Article 47 of the Constitution
of India in its Directive
Principles of State Policy, lays
down that it is the
duty of the State to raise the
level of nutrition and the
standard of living and to
improve public health:
The State shall regard the
raising of the level of nutrition
and the standard of living of its
people and the
improvement of public health
as among its primary duties
and, in particular, the State
shall endeavour
to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for
medicinal purpose of
intoxicating drinks and of
drugs which are injurious to
health.
The State Legislature has
exclusive powers to make laws
for the State with respect to
any of the
matters enumerated in List II
of the Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution and ‘intoxicating
liquor’ is
listed as Item number 8 in List
II. As alcohol is a state subject,
the production, distribution,
and sale of
alcohol is a state
responsibility. Different state
ministries and departments
regulate different aspects
of alcohol. For example, the
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment (MoSJE)
oversees alcohol
use prevention programs,
development of networks and
capacity building for alcohol
prevention and
control and monitoring. The
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) runs de-
addiction
centres. Taxation, excise and
all other regulatory aspects of
alcoholic beverages is the
responsibility of
the Ministry of Finance and
the state excise departments.
There is no systematic
coordination
between these departments
and therefore, there is no
comprehensive national data
on the
production and sale of
alcohol. Only sporadic data
through industry annual
reports and market
research is available.
Alcohol is regulated by state
excise policies that cover
multi-dimensional issues of
alcohol control,
possession, production,
manufacture, selling, buying,
and transport of liquor. There
are two types of
alcohol policies in India: a)
Total prohibition of production
and consumption of all kinds
of alcohol; b)
Partial prohibition of some
kinds of liquor, for example, a
ban on the production and
consumption of
arrack in Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
and Uttar Pradesh. A
significant feature
that is consistent in all state
excise policies is the
declaration of dry days where
no one can sell liquor
on certain days designated as
dry days. While it is the
prerogative of each state
government to decide
on its dry days, national
holidays like the
Independence Day, Republic
Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and
Election Day are dry days
throughout India. In most
states, the state excise
commissioner has the
power to assign any other day
as a dry day under the state
excise policy. Table 4 lists the
analysis of
excise policies of 30 states in
India
 INDEX

TOPIC PAGE NO.

 INTRODUCTION 6

 ALCOHOL ADDICTION 7

 INDIAN PERSPECTIVE 8

 CAUSES FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION 9

 IMPACT OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION 12

 REDUCE THE HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL 15

 POLICIES FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION CONTROL 18

 INTERNATIONAL CONVECTION OF ALCOHOL 20

ADDICTION

 OTHER MEASURES 22

 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE 23

 GLOBAL POLICIES 25

 PREVAILING LAWS IN INDIA 26

 CONCLUSION 27

 REFERENCES 28