This state is first in drinking alcohol
On one hand, due to government efforts and social awareness campaigns, the tendency to drink alcohol among men has decreased at the national level, while on the other hand, this trend has increased rapidly in some states. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and government agencies present a very interesting picture of alcohol consumption in India. From the beaches of Goa to the streets of Bihar, the figures of alcohol consumption are shocking.
Goa is at the forefront, North East is also not behind
when it comes Liquor When it comes to food lovers, Goa seems to be at the top in the country. According to NFHS-5 data, the number of men consuming alcohol in Goa is highest at 59.1 percent. That means about 6 out of every 10 men there consume alcohol. Just behind this is the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, where 56.6 percent men drink alcohol. Telangana (50%) is also quite high in this list. While on one hand ‘jaam’ is overflowing in states like Goa and Arunachal, on the other hand there is a part of the country which is almost untouched by drugs. Alcohol consumption in Lakshadweep is the lowest in the country. Only 0.2 percent people here consume alcohol.
‘Ground reality’ of liquor ban states
The most shocking aspect of this report is the situation of ‘dry states’ i.e. states with prohibition. Complete prohibition is in force in Bihar since 2016, the strictness of the administration also remains intact. Despite this, statistics show that alcohol consumption has not completely ended there. According to reports, about 17 percent (15.5% according to other sources) men in Bihar are still consuming alcohol. However, there has definitely been a decline in comparison to 2015-16. At the same time, there is prohibition in Gujarat also, but this figure is much less there (about 3.9%).
Changing mood of Delhi
The country’s capital Delhi is telling its own story. The impact of the hectic life here and changing social beliefs is also visible on the consumption of alcohol. The number of men drinking alcohol in Delhi has increased from 24.7 percent to 27.9 percent. But what is even more noteworthy is that the trend of drinking alcohol has increased among women here. According to statistics, the percentage of women drinking alcohol in Delhi has more than doubled. On the other hand, in Arunachal Pradesh, the percentage of alcohol consumption by women has traditionally been high, although it is now declining.
‘Desi’ intoxication takes a toll on health
In this whole mathematics of alcohol, there is also an aspect of health, which cannot be ignored. The liquor market in India is not limited to just expensive whiskey or Scotch. The report shows that about 30 percent of the people who drink alcohol in the country consume country liquor. This class is often economically weak and becomes victim of serious health problems due to drinking poor quality alcohol. According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, crores of people in India are suffering from alcohol addiction and need medical help. Even though the figures show a decline at the national level (from 29.2% to 22.4%), the increasing addiction among youth and the working population remains a serious challenge.
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