Govt formulating national policy to reduce alcohol dependency

The Centre is working on formulation of a national policy to address the emerging challenge of alcohol dependency in the country, especially among youth.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the policy will follow the same approach as it is being used in cases of drug de-addiction, a source said.
The proposed policy is being developed by the Social Justice Ministry specifically to tackle the problem of alcohol dependence, a psychiatric disorder in which an individual is physically or psychologically dependent upon drinking alcohol.
As of now, deliberations are on with various stakeholder to formulate a comprehensive policy which addresses the challenges of alcoholism and alcohol abuse cases, the source said.

"Our focus will be on those alcohol dependents who have given up or reduced their social, occupational and recreational pursuits because of alcohol use and are abusing their family members," the source said.
The aim is to mobilise communities to adopt effective approaches to prevent and reduce harmful use of alcohol, reduce the harm to public health and social consequences from alcohol intoxication, and consumption of illicit liquor, the source said.

Alcohol is one of the largest risk factor for disease, accounting for close to three million deaths.
The major individual harms related to alcohol are coronary heart disease, breast cancer, tuberculosis, motor vehicle accidents, liver cirrhosis and suicide, said a report released by the Public Health Foundation of India earlier this week.

NGOs and public health activists have suggested that alcohol availability should be regulated, its marketing, especially surrogate advertisements, which tempt adolescents and the young people be reduced.