Clamour for liquor prohibition, Jayalalithaa government calls it a political ploy

CHENNAI: As the calls for prohibition reached a feverish pitch in Tamil Nadu, experts say that the issue is turning into an election issue ahead of the 2016 assembly polls, while AIADMK sources say CM J Jayalalithaa will only be “responsible but not responsive” to the pressure being built by the opposition parties.

A fresh wave of agitations and call for protests by parties was triggered by the demise of 59-year old Gandhian and anti-liquor activist Sasi Perumal during a protest in Kanyakumari district on Friday.

DMK president in a statement here on Monday has announced statewide demonstrations in every district headquarter to be led by the respective DMK district secretary on August 10.

MDMK leader Vaiko’s home town Kalingapatti in southern Tamil Nadu continued to remain tense after witnessing violent scenes on Sunday when his mother led a protest demanding closure of government-run Tasmac outlets.

ET View

Prohibition does not solve the bane of drinking. It only forces the drinker to take the recourse of sources not under the purview of any standards or regulations. It has, in states with prohibition or prohibition-like conditions, drive drinkers to life-threatening options whose suppliers are in no way accountable to anyone. Hooch deaths occur not because of off-the-shelf liquor being consumed, but because of safer, controlled options not available. Prohibition may be the latest tipple in competitive state politics, first as a pre-poll ‘sop’ in Bihar and now as an oppositional demand in Tamil Nadu. But a ban on liquor creates an underground, noxious sub-industry. Never mind the loss to the exchequer.