United Spirits says prohibition of alcohol in MP give rise to social ills

State govts lose revenue that can be used for social development

With Madhya Pradesh announcing phased prohibition of alcohol, liquor manufacturer United Spirits on Monday said ban on spirits gives rise to other social ills like illicit alcohol, bootlegging and crime.

"A huge body of evidence - both globally and in India - shows that prohibition is not an effective tool to address alcohol misuse. On the contrary, prohibition gives rise to other social ills such as illicit alcohol, bootlegging and crime," Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer, United Spirits said in a statement.

State governments lose revenue that can be used for social development, he said, adding it also criminalises responsible drinkers.

"Rather than sweeping measures, we need to have targetted interventions that address harmful drinking patterns in a targeted way. The state should not infringe on people's freedom to choose whether to drink or not," he said.

There should not be ban on those who choose to drink, to drink better quality, in moderation and in moments of celebration and socialising, he said.