Kerala can claim effectively claim to be the liquor capital of India. Malayalee's obsession with liquor is proven by the quantitative increase the amount of liquor that is sold through legal out lets that has around 400% increase every year. But that figure is just the tip of the ice berg. It is estimated that what is sold through legal out lets contributes just just a fraction of liquor consumption in Kerala. The major chunk are those country made liquor like toddy which is cheap and easily available in country side. Such type of liquor is the favorite of the labourers particularly from other states.
INDIAN MADE FOREIGN LIQUOR (IMFL)
Indian Made Foreign Liquor are those foreign liquor like whiskey and rum that is made and marketed by Indian companies. They are of high quality subjected to strict and stringent quality inspection.In Kerala, they are sold through Kerala State Bivarages Corporation outlets.
COUNTRY LIQUOR
Country liquor are quite a favorite especially with labour class.In Kerala, the most popular is the Toddy or called Kallu. It is an brew extraction from either coconut or palm which is subjected to some process before it is fermented and make it alcoholic. It is such liquor that is used by the labour and lower class rampantly. Now there are strict guidelines to brew toddy. But in most cases, such rules are flaunted. The worst form of contamination is the addition of methane spirit. Methane spirit though cheap is not edible and will cause illness including blinding a person or death.
Kerala has witnessed a um teem liquor tragedies. But it seems we have not learned our lesson. Each time there is a tragedy, the media goes to over hype. There are investigation and recommendations. Then after some days all is forgotten until the next tragedy strikes us. Why is that we do not learn from our previous mistakes and avoid such tragedy from happening? The most to blame is the serious government apathy. Even after a disaster the Government takes only non serious steps mainly to eye wash the public.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
We need to make a serious assessment as to what is wrong with the system? Corrective steps need to be taken. There should be serious and concerted effort to cap the smuggling of methane alcohol from other states. People need to be educated about the implications of taking spurious alcohol. It is always better to spread awareness as to the dangers of alcoholism and educate people on ways to give up drinking. But that as some say is rather an Utopian idea as studies has shown that even the best awareness program has failed to pursue the people to give up alcohol. So the best that can be done is to educate people on the evils of drinking spurious alcohol. Effective steps need to be taken to check the quality of liquor that is being sold. Stringent laws need also to be made to make the guilty punishable and the establishment more accountable. Then only we will be able to avert another catastrophy like the one that has happened in Kerala so many times that is unfolding in Malappuram now. Let us pray for all that are effected.
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