Alcoholism Killing Islanders; Administration mute spectator

Is it possible to stop Alcoholism in A & NIslands? 

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Mar 28: Andaman and Nicobar Islands are reeling under power and water crisis but there is no shortage of liquor in these remote Islands. Every area of South Andaman is blessed with dozens of BARs and every corner of these Islands are sanctified with ‘Wine Shops’ which are run by ANIIDCO, an inseparable part of Administration.

Actually the total liquor trade of liquor is run by ANIIDCO in these remote Islands, which seems to have only one motive, i.e profit. Naturally, for more profit in liquor trade, more liquor has to be imported in these Islands and perhaps for this reason every year these Islands are witnessing, a growth of 15 -20 percent in liquor trade.

Actually the government should have regulated the liquor trade by cutting the import quantity by five to ten percent every year but on the contrary, we are witnessing a growth of 15 to 20 percent every year. More availability of liquor also means more consumption, more sufferings and more deaths.

According to Police sources everyday there are three suicide cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and reason behind most of these deaths, is alcoholism.

Everyday since morning one can see people making beeline infront of ANIIDCO liquor outlets and by afternoon another class of bar flies, flock to the local Bars for their daily dose of alcohol. Most of them are later found either lying dangerously on roads, or inside drains.

NGOs like Humane Touch are fighting constantly against this social evil but when most of the BARs are owned by top politicians and businessmen, efforts like this get very little support.

Now the question is whether Administration will take some step to curb this social evil? Probably the most important question is whether the situation really that bad as projected by media?

When Contacted the Managing Director of ANIIDCO, Mr. Jalaj Srivastava told Andaman Sheekha that any kind check on liquor trade may promote black-marketing of illicit liquor in these islands.

“In all the places where people tried to restrict the free flow of legal alcohol, hoping that people will leave alcohol, what actually happens is, that leads to smuggling of illicit liquor and secondly people start selling spurious liquor, which is a greater evil,” he said.

He said that there is a need to spread awareness about harmful effects of alcoholism to check this menace.

“I am not promoting liquor but what I am trying to say is you should be aware, if we will restrict this, people will start having other types of poisonous drugs which is really harmful,” he added.

Mr. Srivastava also stressed on the need to engage Islanders on constructive things and other sports as well as cultural activities.

“There is swimming pool open for the people, but very less numbers of people go there. I am sorry to say that people are not health consciousness here,” he added.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha the General Manager of ANIIDCO, Mr. Mohammed Pervaiz said that the 20 percent growth in liquor trade is witnessed all over India and it is not true that only A & N Islands are witnessing such growth.

“This growth is in terms of sale and the money transaction but in terms of quantity there is very little growth. In last two years the growth in liquor trade in terms of quantity is nearly 1.57 percent,” he added.

According to ANIIDCO in 2008- 2009 total 3,82,144 cartons of liquor were brought to A & N Islands and the sale was of around Rs. 60.4 crores, in 2009-10 totally 4,66,682 cartons were brought and sale was of nearly Rs. 77.6 crores, similarly in 2010-11 and 2011-12 the total 5,00,150 and 5,08,007 number of liquor cartons reached Andaman and the sales were of nearly Rs. 86 crores and Rs. 96 crores respectively. The grown in terms of sale was mainly because rates of each bottle has increased manifold and the some growth in number of cartons increased because consumption of beer has increased in Andamans.

Though, figures of last two year doesn’t show much growth in liquor trade but many believe that still the present quantity is too much for these tiny Islands. 5,08,007 cartoons mean nearly 60,96,084 bottles of Alcohol. If 180 ml bottles are also calculated the number will be much much higher.

Increase in sale of illicit and spurious liquor can’t be an excuse for selling liquor in Andaman and Nicobar Islands legally. The side effect of liquor trade is visible to everyone and probably this is high time for Administration to intervene and put some restriction on entry of liquor.

With Administration, local society should also shoulder the responsibility of spreading the awareness for “being responsible” while consuming alcohol. It seems social forces have a greater role to play as liquor trade is a lucrative business and if Administration stop bringing liquor, there will always be someone to supply liquor to these Islands illegally, till there is a demand and Tribal areas of Nicobar are the glaring example to our porous boundaries. Perhaps, it’s time for all responsible Islanders to unite and declare a social war against the ghost of alcoholism.