Understanding Alcoholism and Knowing Your Limits


People have been brewing and fermenting alcohol since the beginning of civilization. Alcohol, in moderation, has been celebrated in Vedas, Buddhism, Shaivism, Tantra, Catholicism and many tribal traditions. The society has advanced considerably over the years resulting in an increased change in the quantity and patterns of use of alcohol. Alcoholism has become a serious public health problem that leads to social and domestic problems such as homicides, road accidents, suicides, women and child abuse, poverty, job absenteeism, etc. India has become one of the largest producers of alcohol producing 65% of alcoholic beverages in South East Asia and is the third largest market for distillers and international brewers. The number of people who have consumed alcohol has moved from 1 in 300 to 1 in 20 in the past two decades and more than half of those in this statistics fall into the group of ‘hazardous drinking’. It has been estimated that there could be 14 million people in India who are addicted to alcohol and in need of help. Adoption of western lifestyles by people in the urban India has paved way to an upsurge in the number of bars and nightclubs. Youngsters grow up in a ‘schizophrenic’ environment absorbing the worst of both the eastern and western cultures. Rural India is also witnessing an equally seismic effect as a result of collapsed joint family value system and people moving away from traditional livelihood.

India has a multi-layered society and drinking habits differ greatly between the states. The state of Kerala apparently have the heaviest drinkers where people drink an average of 8.3 litres per capita which is four times the amount when compared to the rest of India. Punjab and Haryana are the other two states where people have the habit of drinking comparatively heavily whereas in some parts of the country, alcohol is banned completely. Kerala is known for its highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country with a market that has grown from 12% to 67% during the last three decades. The State Revenue from alcohol increased from Rs. 40.74 crores in 1988 to Rs. 7511 crores in 2014. The National Family Health Survey 2009 has found four common patterns of alcohol consumption in the state. They are a) lowering the age limit for alcohol consumption b) increase in the number of young alcohol users c) women started using alcohol and d) binge drinking. Both studies and real life incidents show that there is a strong correlation between alcoholism and crime. Surveys reveal that 25% of hospital casualties, 69% of crimes, 40% of road accidents, 80% of divorces and domestic violence that are reported are linked to alcohol consumption.

Alcohol is calming and can have positive health effects if consumed in moderate amounts. They include improved cardiac functioning, reduced stroke incidences, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, gall bladder diseases, type 2 diabetes, thyroid cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma among many other ailments. However, the story is totally different when it is consumed excessively and frenziedly. Indians prefer distilled spirits and hard liquors over beer which shows that the majority drink beverages with a high concentration of alcohol. There is a growing tendency among Indians to engage in ‘binge drinking’ and purposely get drunk. It is the most hazardous pattern of drinking where the person consumes an excessive amount of alcohol in a short span of time. The major health problems due to excessive alcohol intake are a) slows down digestion b) causes gastritis and ulcer c) increases chances of cancer d) fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis e) permanent damage of liver f) slows down brain functioning g) affects judgement and coordination h) causes depression, poor memory and concentration i) psychiatric disorders j) cardiovascular diseases k) pancreatic disorders l) malnutrition m) sexual problems n) degeneration of muscles, o) fetal alcohol syndrome in unborn children, etc. Alcoholism damages the entire organs of the body and completely destroys its very existence.


Men – young and old, educated and uneducated lined up in “military discipline”
in front of a Kerala State Beverages Corporation outlet.

Apart from causing severe health problems, heavy drinking makes people susceptible to crimes such as rapes, domestic violence, etc., struggle with profession, live in poverty, and experience relationship issues. The effects of alcoholism on families has long term consequences which are difficult to overcome. Partners go through a devastating situation and suffer from poor communication, stress, increased anger and distress, lack of intimacy, marital abuse, financial shortage, etc. Children who live with their father or mother who are alcohol addicts can have chronic depression, low self-esteem, high levels of anxiety, stress, fear of abandonment, and feelings of dejection. Once these children become adults, these effects continue to influence their lives which often end up in relationship issues. Women who drink during pregnancy can cause the babies to be born with irreversible physical and mental birth defects. Underage drinking (consumption of alcohol before the legal age limit) has become very common in India. Adolescent drinking can seriously affect the normal development of mind and body. The habit develops into alcoholism and can be related to teen suicide. It tempts them to use harder drugs, encourages sexual promiscuity, makes victims to perform badly in school or college, etc.

India is one among the rare countries where prohibition of alcohol is included in the national constitution as one of the directive principles of state policy. Article 47 of the Constitution of India states that, “the state shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medical purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.” The production and sale of alcoholic beverages in India is controlled by the respective Governments of the states. Some of the states such as Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, has implemented prohibition taking into consideration the harmful effects caused by alcoholism and the popular demand from women and the rural inhabitants. However, economic difficulties and political intervention had caused the Governments to annul their policies. The production of alcohol bring in huge amount of revenue to the Governments with some states benefiting more than 10% of their revenue from this source. Total prohibition of alcohol is not practical. It adversely affects revenue and tourism, may result in crime and corruption, and encourages binge drinking. People who are addicted to alcohol will depend on adulterated beverages and shoddy alcohol consumption in hiding. Adulteration of alcohol causes alcohol poisoning that leads to blindness and even death. History has shown us that making something a taboo is not a remedy; it only makes the forbidden fruit more tempting.

There should be effective regulatory policies to reduce the per capita consumption of alcohol and availability of alcoholic beverages in the country. The option of buying unlimited alcoholic beverages should be restricted and a rationing system should be introduced. The opening times of beverages outlets should also be minimised which would control alcohol access to youth. Drunken driving, drinking in public places, nuisance caused by drunkenness, etc. should be punished strictly and levied with a fine. Every medium of entertainment such as satellite channels, radio, movies, music, etc. should stop endorsing alcoholic beverages and selling brand names. The sale and consumption of adulterated alcohol should be checked regularly and penalised. We require more well-trained physicians who have knowledge on efficacy of de-addiction drugs, psychological and vocational therapies. Both Government and private stake holders should organise alcohol awareness programmes to educate the public on sensible drinking, alcohol consumption limits, legislation, and negative effects of alcohol on the mind and body.

Check for yourselves. You have a drinking problem if you a) regularly drink more than you used to b) resort to drinking in order to relax or feel better c) forget what you did while you were drunk d) feel guilty about your drinking habit e) hide your drinking habits, and f) have family or friends worried about your drinking.

Alcohol is a toxic substance. It affects you. Know your limits.