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Home / UPSC Editorials / Tamilnadu hooch tragedy lessons| UPSC Editorial

Tamilnadu hooch tragedy lessons| UPSC Editorial

Last Updated on Jul 16, 2024
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Analysis based on 

The article published on The Indian Express titled ‘Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy points to the need for a public health-centred approach to alcohol’

For Prelims

DPSP

Gandhian ideology

Methanol

For Mains

GS Paper 4 (Ethics)

GS Paper 2 (Policies & Governance)

Pros and Cons of Liquor Ban

Why Hooch, illicit liquor or Methanol is in News?

Recently, nearly 60 people, including a few women, have died, and more than 50 others are battling for their lives after consuming a methanol-spiked moonshine brew in Kallakurichi town, Tamil Nadu. Moreover, Tamilnadu Government has also constituted a judicial commission of inquiry, headed by former Madras High Court Judge B Gokuldas, to investigate the incident and submit its report to the State within three months. Simultaneously, he also transferred the case to the Crime Branch - Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) for a deeper investigation. The Chief Minister sanctioned compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those in hospitals.

What is Hooch, illicit liquor or Methanol? 

It is a commonly used term for cheap quality alcohol, derived from Hoochinoo, a native Alaskan tribe that was known to produce this type of very strong liquor.

Unlike branded liquor which is produced in factories under rigorous quality control, hooch is made in much more crude settings mainly in house or in illegal settings. Easily available in the market for its industrial applications, methanol is intentionally added to make it much more potent.

Production Method of Methanol- 

Fermentation is the process used to create beverages like beer or wine. In this process on heating yeast reacts with sugar (from grain, fruits, sugarcane, etc.) to ferment and produce a mixture containing alcohol or ethanol. But as fermentation continues, and alcohol levels rise, conditions in the mixture become toxic for the yeast. Eventually, no more fermentation can take place. Thus, to make it stronger beverages are distilled. This distilled beverages if not taken care of become methanol. It is far more potent than any fermented beverage and is too risky.

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Difference Between Methanol & Ethanol 

The table below lists the difference between methanol and ethanol.

Methanol

Ethanol 

It is an alcohol with a methyl group in the carbon skeleton.

It is an alcohol with ethyl group in the carbon skeleton.

Methyl alcohol is highly toxic and not suitable for consumption.

Ethanol is less toxic and is found in beverages and hand sanitisers.

It is a stronger acid than water.

It is a weaker acid than water.

Effects of Methanol drinking

Inhaling or drinking Methanol is extremely dangerous to a person’s health. It can cause permanent disorders like blindness and neurologic dysfunction and may also lead to death. Other side effects of methyl alcohol are breathing problems, liver problems, muscle weakness, weak nervous system, and stomach and intestine disorders. Also, it is dangerous because it is highly flammable.

Data & Statistics 

According to WHO’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018, India’s per capita alcohol consumption stood at 2.4 litres, 4.3 litres and 5.7 litres in 2005, 2010 and 2016 respectively. The report predicts India’s per capita consumption will increase further by 2.2 litres by 2025. 

According to the WHO, the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions and globally 3 million deaths occur every year due to harmful use of alcohol (5.3% of all deaths).

According to NCRB a total of 708 incidents of consumption of illicit/spurious liquor caused 782 deaths in the country during 2021. Maximum such deaths were recorded in Uttar Pradesh (137) followed by Punjab (127), Madhya Pradesh (108), Karnataka (104), Jharkhand (60) and Rajasthan (51).

Deaths due to poisoning by illicit alcohol are limited to a handful of countries, among which India ranks at the top.

What are the Issues related to alcohol consumption?

Morality

Alcohol consumption is associated with mortality in nearly all countries. The reason behind this is associated with its direct effects on various organs damage such as the liver and due to its indirect effects through impairing one’s abilities leading to accidents. Whereas it is also related with increased cases of domestic violence, rape etc.

Gandhian Principle and DPSP

When our Constitution was ratified India became the only secular and democratic country which required the state to implement prohibition of intoxicating substances, lumping alcohol with other drugs. The prohibition of alcohol use is encouraged in the constitution of India (Article 47, DPSP). It is related to Gandhian ideology as he say ‘drink and the drug evil is in many respects infinitely worse than the evil caused by malaria and the like; for, whilst the latter only injures the body, the former saps both body and soul."

Modernisation vs morality/cultural issue

Alcohol is in conflicting relationship with the state because in one way it is associated with personal freedom, modernisation or one’s own wish but it is in clash with cultural norms. Hence state remains in dilemna that it should ban it or regulate it. 

Effects on poor section

Mostly low-income groups prefer to buy illicit liquor because of its low price compared to branded liquor. WHO says: “Unregulated alcoholic drinks are generally very cheap and are therefore attractive to people with low incomes”. In Bihar, prisons are bursting with poor men who were arrested for drinking. As everywhere in the country, most victims of hooch tragedies are the poor.

No regulation on Hooch Production 

As many Indian communities are involved in this production from centuries. Hence, it is not regulate by states govt. 

Total Ban vs Regulation 

Many reports shown that Prohibition has led to the emergence of a huge black economy operated by organized gangs. But it is a big political issue like in Bihar t is related to women security or domestic violence as well as its impact on house’s financial condition. So to voe the women’s voters Bihar take a decision of complete ban. But, it is a common tradition in many other states and Govt. can’t take such a drastic step. 

Financial source

For many states alcohol taxation is a major finance source. According to a recent industry report, alcohol revenues account for 1.2% of India’s nominal GDP, 7.7% of the total tax collection, and a striking 11.7% of the nation’ indirect tax revenue. States are increasingly reliant on alcohol for revenue, with one in every seven rupees expected to be generated from state excise duties levied on it.

Not a common law 

As alcohol regulation come under state list each state has it’s own policy and there is no regularity between them. Like Bihar’s experiment with prohibition demonstrated as a draconian law whereas Delhi excise policy is too liberal. Whereas Gujarat came up with a bizarre policy wherein residents were banned from drinking but out-of-state visitors could procure alcohol if armed with a doctor’s certificate stating that they had a drinking problem. More recently, the state allowed liquor in the ambitious GIFT City but only to permanent employees and their authorised visitors.

Way Forward 

As recommended by WHO “bringing informally and illegally produced alcohol into the taxation system, implementing tax stamps, developing monitoring systems, and publishing warnings about the health risks” can be a good step. 

As total prohibition of liquor seems an obvious solution, it would only drive the illegal liquor trade further underground and put more lives at risk. Hence govt. should regulate the alcohol production and not rely on complete prohibition. 

Govt should start greater outreach to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming spurious liquor as well as de-addiction programmes that are accessible to the poorest and most vulnerable section. 

As Madras High Court, while hearing a petition highlited that stricter regulation and enforcement of the law are called for, if further tragedies are to be prevented. 

Local communities involved in alcohol production should also come in preview of govt. Regulation. 

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