Social organisation chief urge Delhi government to curb alcohol consumption

Pointing out that alcohol consumption in Delhi has increased by 55 per cent in the last two years, an social organisation's chief on Tuesday urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to adopt a partial liquor prohibition policy.

Prince Singhal, founder of Community against drunken driving (CADD), said: "Delhi is India's worst city in terms of fatal road accidents -- 73.1 per cent of these are due to driver's fault. Drunk driving is the single largest cause of fatal road accidents."

The organisation in its report said that of an average 1,875 deaths due to road accidents occured annually, out of which 1,500 are due to drink driving. As per CADD report, 54.1 per cent victims are in the age group of 15-34 years.

He urges the Delhi government to impose on a trial basis a short-term partial prohibition to decrease alcohol consumption by 25 per cent.

"Easy access to alcohol is leading to several unhealthy practices like drink and underage drinking, drinking in public places, bar and pub brawls and crime against women, making Delhi an unsafe city," Singhal said.

CADD urged the Delhi government to restrict the availability of alcohol in pubs to 11 p.m., availability and sale of alcohol on alternative days, penalising alcohol consumption in public areas and increasing number of dry days to 35 from present 21.

CADD said there are 128 hotspots in Delhi where most of the accidents occur.

--IANS

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