Essay – Alcohol ban-Is it the only way to stop crimes and alcohol consumption? | SBI PO, BOB Manipal, NICL AO 2017 Descriptive

Ever since the Supreme Court
ordered for a prohibition on alcohol selling and consumption on all the state
and national highways, a new debate opened. How effective this ban will be? One
group of debaters said that it was an ineffective way and would not bring down
the rate of crime whereas the other group was contended and welcomed the ban.
This ban was quoted as a classic case of
good intentions missing the mark. In no time, several sting operations
blatantly unveiled the backdoors of alcohol supply.

When dug in deep to know the
requirement of this ban, it appears to be a step to curb drunken driving which
is responsible for thousands of deaths per year in India. Also, the after effects
of drinking that had come in the limelight in the recent years, like abusing,
eve teasing, and rape has also led to the ban. It was clear that the freedom of
choice of drinking is being exploited to the extent that is putting the lives
of several people at risk.

But there is another side to it –
the loss of revenue to the alcohol producing industries. On an estimate the
alcohol industry provides employment to almost ten thousand people in a year.
The ban would result in the loss of around six lakh crores of revenue, which
was fully legitimate. No provision as such has been made for those who were
left unemployed overnight and the manufacturers who lost their earnings of a
lifetime.

It was no doubt a bold move but
also an unplanned one. Instead of the absolute ban, certain restrictions would
have been more effective in bringing down the crime rate. Also, proper
provisions for the after effects of the ban would prevent the losses. And
lastly, a keen check on the illegitimate ways of alcohol supply will bring
positive outcomes.