The shadowy networks: How monopolies and fiscal dependence fuel India's alcohol tragedy

By Bharat Dogra* 

The recent tragic deaths of approximately 23 individuals in the Amritsar district of Punjab, along with the critical condition of several others, have understandably sparked significant concern. However, this incident should be viewed as merely a devastating glimpse into a far broader and steadily worsening crisis: the multifaceted tragedy of alcohol-related deaths, illnesses, and social upheaval across India.

According to WHO estimates from 2018, India already witnessed around 260,000 (2.6 lakh) alcohol-related deaths annually. This figure excluded certain categories of liquor-related fatalities, which can be substantial. Alarmingly, this number has likely increased considerably since then, paralleling the consistent rise in alcohol consumption. Even using a conservative, perhaps underestimated, figure of about 3.6 lakh deaths per year in India (compared to the global annual toll of 2.6 million), this translates to roughly 30,000 deaths each month, approximately 1,000 deaths daily, and a staggering 42 deaths every hour in India due to factors linked to alcohol consumption.

Therefore, while the issue of deaths caused by spurious liquor is undoubtedly grave, the overarching tragedy of escalating alcohol-related fatalities presents a far more extensive problem. Furthermore, alcohol contributes to significantly more domestic violence, various forms of violence, and familial and social breakdown than any other legal or illegal intoxicant. These wider dimensions of the alcohol problem are often overlooked, largely due to the powerful vested interests associated with the rapidly increasing consumption of alcohol. The latest available data from 2025 (IWSR—International Wine and Spirits Records) reveals that unlike several other major liquor-consuming nations that are reducing their intake due to health campaigns and other factors, India is among the countries experiencing a rapid surge in alcohol consumption. A primary reason for this trend is the erosion of healthy social traditions that once discouraged liquor consumption, replaced by a distorted notion of modern living that not only emphasizes rampant consumerism but also instant gratification, including substance abuse. Shockingly, some Punjabi and Bhojpuri songs even celebrate alcoholism. This problem is particularly severe and growing in certain states, including Punjab. Moreover, when governments initiate "nasha mukti" or anti-intoxication campaigns, they predominantly focus on addiction to and the supply of illegal drugs, often neglecting alcohol, despite the fact that legally available liquor accounts for the highest number of deaths, instances of domestic violence, and social disruption. Paradoxically, these same governments that claim to be conducting "nasha mukti" initiatives continue to authorize the opening of more and more liquor vends in villages, a practice strongly opposed by women who often find themselves powerless, although they have, in some instances, come forward to protest these vends and have occasionally succeeded in shutting them down.

In my own modest efforts, I have been campaigning in various locations, advocating for an approach that encourages people to abstain from all forms of intoxicants, including various types of liquor, tobacco, and drugs. Almost universally, the response from villagers, particularly women, has been overwhelmingly positive, and they urge the continuation of this work.

The escalating tragedy of liquor consumption is also intrinsically linked to those who seek to derive excessive legal and illegal profits from the production and sale of liquor (encompassing both illicit and legal varieties). Given that this is rarely acknowledged at the official level, it is crucial to consider the perspective of a highly experienced retired official from Punjab, shared shortly after the Amritsar tragedy.

Suresh Kumar, the former Chief Secretary of Punjab, articulated in an article published in The Tribune on May 16th, “One of the most formidable barriers to reform is the monopolization of Punjab’s liquor trade. Over the past decade, a select few individuals—many with connections to both ruling and opposition parties—have secured control over liquor manufacturing and distribution. These monopolies, solidified through opaque auctions and manipulated licensing processes, suppress competition and accountability. In many districts, the police function less as law enforcement and more as protectors of the liquor empire. Excise inspectors, often silenced by fear or complicity, remain ineffective. Even honest officials find themselves powerless within a system reinforced by money, muscle, and political influence.”

Furthermore, this insightful review by a well-informed senior official notes, “The tragedy is compounded by distorted economic incentives. Punjab generates over Rs. 10,000 crore annually through liquor excise, making it the state’s second-largest source of non-debt revenue. This fiscal dependence fosters a deliberate blindness. When both legal and illegal profits flow upwards through the same shadowy networks, the state becomes a silent accomplice in the slow poisoning of its people.”

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man over Machine—Gandhian Path to Peace, Protecting Earth for Children, A Day in 2071, and Planet in Peril