Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy: Media, cinema, law enforcement agencies – everyone must help combat illicit liquor menace

To combat this menace, a holistic deterrent approach is necessary. The state government cannot spring into action on the date of the incident through media-managed visits. Tax revenues from alcohol in a state like Tamil Nadu add up to 10-12 per cent of the Budget spending and were approximately Rs 35,000 crore in 2021–22, as per economist Karthik Muralidharan. Thus, there is no question of banning. But steel-willed and culturally sensitive regulation is the need of the hour.

Reports from the ground indicate the distribution and consumption of illicit liquor even during the COVID-19 pandemic. If the state government can swiftly call for a commission and even ensure actions post-incident, why could it not deter such incidents with periodic audits? No matter who is in power — DMK, AIADMK, BJP, INC, or any other party — there must be a policy to regulate illicit liquor to protect those most vulnerable. A comprehensive framework should address production, distribution, and consumption, as well as the precise roles the regulators will play. There are no simple solutions, but we need decisive political will and action. Tamil Nadu can also make use of technology to identify and distinguish between legal and illegal liquor.

Rural distress remains a reality. Many individuals who consume illicit liquor earn marginal incomes, and COVID exacerbated it. Policymakers must address the larger question of how to empower them socio-economically. Could they, perhaps, develop specific skill development programmes that would enable them to start their own businesses?

The next aspect to consider is the role of law enforcement agencies. The state government must play a role in ensuring that all law enforcement agencies partake in audits that weed out harmful illicit liquor. They need to be wary and mindful of the vicious cycle that it can perpetuate, which includes a rise in organised crime. In the process, we should also look into how community-level involvement can contribute to the success of audits and raids.

Civil society organisations have a huge role to play as well. From basic education and awareness to creating deaddiction plans, organisations will have to be proactive in empowering the marginalised and those in rural areas. The media’s role is equally important. Periodic reporting on the status of current preventive measures, even in the absence of tragedies, is necessary. A detailed report by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade had one excellent suggestion: To involve the private sector. Collaborating closely with the private sector to exchange intelligence, detect counterfeits, and identify dubious operators could be a significant improvement in this area.

Popular Tamil film directors, such as Lokesh Kanagaraj, have gone above and beyond to work around the importance of ending the drug menace. It is crucial that the film industry address critical issues like illicit liquor and emphasize its harmful effects. Cinema in my opinion has to play a proactive and central role. Late MGR in his movies did not normalize drinking for that matter although analysts may say he did this to nurture his own brand, but the fact remains if MGR portrayed anything even in the silver screen he had an effect.

According to Euromonitor’s 2018 Global Study on Illicit Alcohol, one in four alcohol bottles is illicit and represents 26 per cent of all global consumption. The unrecorded alcohol market in Asia is large, particularly in lower-income countries. But this is not a one-state problem; it is a national problem. Even in states where alcohol is prohibited, bootleggers ensure that illicit liquor is available. A depiction in the popular Amazon series Mirzapur shows this. Therefore, there is a greater than ever need for states to create and regularly share a national database of known offenders and best practices.

Jean-Claude Juncker, former prime minister of Luxembourg, once famously remarked, “We all know what to do; we just don’t know how to get re-elected after we have done it.” The time is right for political parties and all stakeholders to make tough decisions and formulate a pragmatic and holistic policy framework in the future. If not, as in the Constitution’s Preamble, “we, the people” of the state have to take it upon ourselves to not let future generations suffer.

The writer is visiting fellow at India Foundation