3. Why Gandhiji was against
liquor ?
• Gandhi, father of our nation, was against selling &
drinking liquors
• He said, it’s criminal to spend income from sale of
intoxicants on education of nation’s children or
other public services
The government must overcome temptation of using
such revenue for nation-building purposes
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4. Early life
• India has come a long way ahead of state of 1930s
or 40s
• In 30s, people in state of unemployment &
poverty used to spend their spare time in drinking,
even if they had no money
• The result was families destroyed due to head of
the family being indulged in drinking habit
• Violence caused by drinking problem was a
common thing at that time
• That’s why, Gandhiji had to address nation about
drinking practice
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5. After Independence
After independence, India had to abolish selling of
liquor
• But no, India is still generating revenues from liquor
• Now, thing is whether drinking liquor is actually bad
habit, or it was the situation which demanded
Gandhiji to be against liquor
• As Gandhiji is our idol, our nation should reflect to
follow his principles
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6. What the study says ?
• According to NIAAA – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse &
Alcoholism, moderate drinkers have lowest death rate
compared to heavy drinkers
In another word, if you take liquor as a drug & take in a
controlled fashion, it’s good for your health & longevity
So, being strictly against liquor or drinking habit is quick or
biased judgement
Excess of anything is not good, so is the case with liquor too
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7. Ban in Gujarat
• Gujarat is only state in India where complete
prohibition on sale of liquor is enforced
Hotel & tourism industries, no state
government has dared change the law
• Because of association with Gandhi & huge
followers involved
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8. How the ban is adversely
affecting Gujarat ?
• Outdated law has started to have negative
impact on Gujarat's tourist-friendly image
• Tourism is just one industry affected by Gujarat's
prohibition policy
• Promising investors are shying away from the
state because of ban
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9. Who are allowed to consume
liquor in Gujarat ?
• Gujarat's prohibition law allows permit to
foreigners & outsiders but process is
cumbersome
• State also gives group liquor permits for
conferences & meetings but process is not so
simple
• Only place where the government allows free
flow of liquor is in special economic zones (SEZs)
• Gujarat has 60 sanctioned SEZs, out of which 22
are operational & rest are in pipepline
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10. Businessmen v/s the Gandhians
• Vast section of businessmen, including ‘Dinesh Hinduja’
favour lifting ban
But few are willing to speak against policy fearing
government or police wrath
• Eminent Gandhian, Chunibhai Vaidya, says :
"Women feel safer because no one can dare to create
a scene in the open after getting drunk in Gujarat"
"The government should work towards curbing
corruption in police and strengthening prohibition"
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11. What the government says ?
• Gujarat government spokesperson & state Health
Minister Jai Narayan Vyas, also supports Chunibhai
Vaidya’s point of view
• Interestingly, Indian Made Foreign Liquor is freely
available in Gujarat, thanks to bootleggers
• According to an estimate, Gujarat is losing Rs.4,000
crore in excise duty annually because of this anti-
alcohol policy
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12. Narendra Modi doubtful about
lifting the ban….
• Chief Minister Narendra Modi is doubtful about
lifting ban
• He feels it could anger the women voters who form
the bulk of his supporters
• With state Assembly elections due in December,
there is little likelihood of Modi even relaxing the
law partially
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