Pataali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to follow the Maharashtra model of introducing phased prohibition.
In a statement, Dr. Ramadoss said that Maharashtra was leading by example, announcing that the sale of liquor would be restricted to persons aged above 25 years and that liquor shops in a particular locality would be closed down if 25 per cent of the local populace opposed it.
Maharashtra had a history of respecting peoples' sentiments on issues related to prohibition. As per the provisions of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949, liquor shops would be closed whenever 50 per cent of women in that locality opposed.
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Now, the government, acceding to the demand of Gandhian Anna Hazare, has announced that liquor shops will be closed even if 25 per cent of the population resisted, he said.
In Tamil Nadu, however, liquor shops in residential areas were not being closed even after court orders. When Maharashtra had banned the sale of liquor to those below 25 years, there were reports in the State that 13-year olds were getting addicted to liquor, he said.
Stating that the PMK has been fighting years for total prohibition, he asked the State government to follow the Maharashtra model and ban liquor at public functions.
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As a prelude to total prohibition, he asked the government to restrict sale of liquor from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then implement prohibition in a phased manner.