To say the two Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh often compete with each other over things bordering on the absurd is an understatement. After the year-long squabbling over river water, power, educational institutions and maintenance of law and order in the common capital of Hyderabad, both are now caught in a mad race to literally drown people in pools of liquor. Through their new liquor policies, if Telangana government wants to make Hyderabad — where drinking water supply is still on alternate days — “a global city with vibrant night life” by offering round-the-clock liquor supply, Andhra Pradesh is looking at pushing up the liquor consumption at least by about 20 per cent all over the State to get as much revenue to shore up its near-empty coffers. Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have made no bones of the fact that they are looking forward to generate a revenue of Rs. 10,000 crore and Rs.12,000 crore respectively throwing to the wind caution and efforts to wean people away from the drink evil. Civil society groups campaigning against drink evil say to reach such a revenue target, people would have to guzzle three to four times worth of liquor.
Such consumption simply means not just ruinous effect on more and more families but bringing to a nought subsidised rice scheme, hiked budget allocations for social security and welfare measures. Studies in the past in united AP have shown a direct link between prohibition and vast improvement in small savings of families and better education. programme. But who wants such studies when Excise revenue has become a major source of revenue. Besides allowing more wine shops in Hyderabad, the TS government wants to push opening of more pubs, microbreweries churning out fresh finely crafted chilled beer and wine consumption as well. Like Mumbai, the government may allow women bartenders to serve liquor in bars.
The line-up may look impressive for tourists and those eternally tuned to socialising and wining and dining but for many ordinary citizens it is going to be unsafe night journey on roads and a nightmare.
The policy is also riddled with contradictions. While the government’s explicitly stated policy is to promote consumption of liquor and spice up nightlife, teams of traffic policemen armed with breath analysers want to check drunken driving. Can both go together? Similar was the case with revival of toddy shops, one of the first decisions taken by the Telangana government after assuming power. Is it prudent to revive these toddy shops at every street corner in already crammed localities now when there are no toddy trees left in the vicinity of the city thanks to real estate business and urbanisation? By allowing indiscriminate flow of liquor and other exotic drinks is the government not strengthening the stereotyping of people of Telangana that they drink and feast at the drop of a hat?
Situation in Andhra Pradesh is no different. Forgetting its past of introducing prohibition, the election promise of banishing belt shops and a region where Rosamma waged a struggle against liquor in Dubugunta , AP government is in a tearing hurry to aggressively promote liquor consumption. It has already called for applications which has fetched the government revenue of over Rs. 200 crore and is in the process of allotting shops through a lottery system. Apart from allowing about 4,380 shops, the government plans to set up a shop each in 664 mandals “as part of our efforts to streamline the sale of liquor in the State at MRP”, make available liquor in shopping malls, through cooperative societies and in 90 ML tetrapacks apparently to reach out to more and more consumers. Instead of getting into a race of promoting liquor consumption putting at stake people and family’s health, one would have appreciated if the two States got into healthy competition over improving governance and human development indices. But who cares?
Through their new liquor policies, while TS government wants to offer 24/7 liquor supply, AP is looking at pushing up its consumption at least by about 20 per cent to increase revenue
