SIMRAN RAJPAL
Alcohol is more than just an intoxication; it has a significant impact on society and the economy. Alcohol addiction not only harms one's health, but it also causes rifts in relationships and escalates crime.
In 2020, India's alcoholic beverage consumption was estimated to reach over 500 crore liters. It is anticipated that consumption will reach 621 crore liters by 2024.
The consumption of intoxicating beverages increased by 10% in 2020-21. Following this, there is an annual increase of approximately 5%.
According to the April 2021 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 15% of men in rural regions consume alcohol on a daily basis.
In comparison, more than 14% of urban men drink virtually every day. The poll found that 42.7% of males in rural regions and 44.7% of men in cities consume alcohol at least once each week.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicated that the poorest people drink the most, while the richest people drink the least. The figure for women is also the highest here.
Up to 26.6% of the poorest men consume alcohol. Following this, 21.2% of less poor, 19.3% of middle-class, 15.9% of upper-middle-class, and 12.8% of rich men consume alcohol. For women, the figures are 3.4%, 1.3%, 0.9%, 0.5%, and 0.4%, respectively.
According to studies published in the medical journal Lancet, more than 16 crore men in the country drink alcohol. Alcohol use has risen among Indian men and women during the previous three decades.
Alcohol use among women aged 15 to 39 has risen by 0.08 percent since 1990. At present, 54 lakh women of this age drink alcohol.