A bill proposing a complete ban on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir has been submitted by the ruling National Conference MLA Ahsan Pardesi and also by the PDP MLA Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir. The bills call for a ban on the rising trend of alcohol consumption, in view of its negative fallout on society. It is heartening that leaders from all political parties, including from the BJP, have voiced support for the ban despite their political disagreements.
Alcohol is already prohibited in Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Nagaland, as well as the union territory of Lakshadweep. The proposed ban in Jammu and Kashmir shows a broader concern about the dangers of the easy availability of alcohol on the community, particularly the young generation.. The ban is also being pursued out of a desire to align with cultural and religious values of the place, as it is in the other states of the country where prohibition is in force. Pardesi rightly said that the repercussions of alcohol drinking reverberate across society, and that in a region already grappling with a severe drug crisis, access to alcohol will only exacerbate the problem. In 2023, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment conveyed to the parliament that approximately 13.50 lakh drug abusers are estimated to be in Jammu and Kashmir, with the majority falling within the age range of 18 to 75 years.
Prohibition, according to critics, may have unforeseen repercussions, such as leading to the illegal booze trade. These worries are legitimate, but they shouldn’t take precedence over the main goal of protecting society from the harmful effects of alcohol. These problems can be successfully resolved by a strict enforcement of the ban combined with education campaigns.
However, the ban is not only a moral imperative as it leads to many social evils and intimate partner violence, it also has far-reaching health benefits. According to WHO, alcohol consumption increases risk factors for premature mortality. In 2016, alcohol consumption was linked to approximately 3 million deaths worldwide, accounting for 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury. The studies have found that drinking alcohol increases the risk of liver cirrhosis, and several other non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions. Importantly, younger individuals are more adversely affected by alcohol compared to older adults. So, strict alcohol regulation policies may yield significant population level health benefits for frequent drinkers, especially the younger generation. It is thus time that the ban goes ahead for the sake of our young population. We are already hemmed in by the drug crisis, so can’t afford to overlook the potential exacerbation of substance abuse issues that the availability of alcohol might bring.
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