The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Anti-liquor forum demands prohibition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Anti-liquor forum demands prohibition

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 18. The Anti-Liquor United Forum has urged the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to immediately give up the State Government's proposal to garner extra income from liquor sales. It has also asked him to take steps to implement phase-wise prohibition as promised in the election manifesto of the Congress.

The forum wanted the Government to stop issuance of licenses to new wine shops and bars, declare dry day once a week, close wine shops by 8.30 p.m., check sale of adulterated toddy in Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, Kurnool and other districts and earmark funds to take up extensive awareness campaign on the ills of drinking.

The forum's demands were finalised at a State Executive meeting and were released at a press conference held here on Sunday. The Forum's Convenor, V. Lakshman Reddy, the Progressive Organisation for Women president, V. Sandhya, anti-arrack movement leader, Malladi Subbamma, and others said that women voted in large numbers for the Congress mainly because of the assurance to implement total prohibition and it was imperative that the Government initiated measures for the same.

"It is a just demand and the Congress Government has a moral responsibility. We are not seeking an overnight decision, we only request the Government not to treat it as an income-generating source," they said.

In an open letter addressed to Dr. Reddy, the forum wished to know the steps taken by his Government to close down belt shops that had sprouted all over the State. "The Congress itself said there were about a lakh such shops. We want to ask the Government if any survey has been conducted to authenticate the figure, whether they have been reduced or is anything being done to remove them," asked the forum members. It opposed any move to replace belt shops with wine shops and sought to point out that already such shops were proliferating close to educational institutions and religious places.

The State Government should ensure that liquor sale is restricted so that it comes down each year paving the way for total prohibition. The Forum said rampant liquor sale was causing family and health problems to people at large, besides road accidents and law and order problems. De-addiction centres should also be opened, the forum said. The forum would be conducting a meet to discuss the excise policy of the Government at the Press Club, Basheerbagh on September 11 and hold public meetings at the mandal and district levels to remind the Congress Government's promises on total prohibition.

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