Chaitanya Sravanthi moves SC on uniform liquor policy

Visakhapatnam: Chaitanya Sravanthi Organisation moved Supreme Court for a nation-wide policy on liquor, said organisation president Dr Shirin Rehman. Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Shirin Rehman said that they filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court on December 5 and the case will come up for hearing on December 15.

Citing the results of National Institute of Mental Health Survey – 2016, she said illiterates and the poor were the worst-hit of alcohol consumption. Stating that the survey was conducted in urban, semi-urban, slums and rural areas, she said the results of survey showed that majority of the dwellers were suffering from mental health issues due to alcohol addiction.

“Twenty years ago, only persons who have crossed 21 years used to consume alcohol and the addicts were two per cent. But now, the alcohol addicts’ percentage had shot up to 22 per cent. Moreover, these days children from 13 years of age are consuming alcohol,” she said, quoting WHO report.

Finding fault over spread out of liquor shops, bars and pubs at every nook and corner, the woman activist said the governments should take interest in changing this distressing trend.

“According to Article 47 in the Constitution, the government should take responsibility of every person’s health. But as the liquor sale is contributing major share to the revenue of the government, the authorities concerned are turning a blind eye toward the issue,” she pointed out.

Shirin Rehman stressed that the government should come out with a uniform liquor policy across the country. Chaitanya Sravanthi vice-president Vijayshanakar and secretary Ashok Kumari were present.