DOOR DELIVERY OF ALCOHOL
1. Context
The States of Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Kerala are or were mulling plans to allow the doorstep delivery of alcohol through platforms like Swiggy, BigBasket, and Zomato. India has seen a steady rise in alcohol consumption. The recorded per capita consumption has increased from 1.6 litres in 2003-2005 to 2.2 litres in 2010, then to 5.5 litres in 2016-2018.
2. Why Door step delivery?
- There are two primary reasons supporting the idea of delivering alcohol directly to homes. Firstly, excise taxes on alcohol sales can significantly boost revenue for both Central and State governments.
- In many states, alcohol sales taxes contribute up to 25% of the government's total revenue. Secondly, home delivery of alcohol can potentially decrease drunk driving incidents, thereby reducing road traffic accidents and related injuries. In India, alcohol use accounts for 6-48% of fatal road traffic accidents.
- Another argument suggests that doorstep delivery may not compromise the safety of women consumers. Evidence from Kerala indicates that closing bars that sell hard liquor has led to a reduction in on-premise violence against women. Doorstep delivery might offer a similar benefit, particularly for women living alone or with other women.
- However, this perspective has its challenges. For the majority of women in India, safety cannot be guaranteed, as domestic violence related to alcohol consumption is widespread. While doorstep delivery might help women access alcohol without facing social stigma, it remains uncertain if it will actually reduce violence against them
3. What are the arguments against it?
- Research indicates that in India, the costs associated with alcohol use outweigh the economic benefits from alcohol sales.
- Additionally, the assumption that doorstep delivery of alcohol will lead to changes in drinking and socializing behaviors requires concrete evidence, despite being reasonable. Some evidence suggests that on-demand alcohol availability can lead to increased consumption, binge drinking, and related harms.
- Moreover, it is not a given that doorstep alcohol delivery will reduce drunk driving. There are other proven policies that can address this issue more effectively, such as sobriety checkpoints, strict penalties for repeat offenders, and enhancing the availability of public transportation and ride-sharing options
4. Effects of alcohol consumption
- Alcohol is a carcinogen linked to at least seven types of cancer. Its consumption also raises the risk of injuries, substance abuse, mental illnesses, diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney diseases. Additionally, male alcohol misuse heightens the risk and severity of inter-partner violence.
- The treatment costs for alcohol-related diseases and injuries in India are projected to exceed ₹3 lakh crore between 2011 and 2050.
- When factoring in productivity losses, this figure rises to ₹121.3 lakh crore. Government revenue from excise taxes on alcohol will cover only one-fifth of these financial losses.
- Globally, the alcohol industry is known for its intense lobbying efforts, including attempts to weaken health warning labels.
- It also sees low- and middle-income countries as emerging markets. In India, the industry has actively opposed policies aimed at reducing alcohol use, despite evidence of their effectiveness
5.What can governments do regarding this?
- Apart from a few national policies, such as drunk driving laws and health warning labels, alcohol-use policies are largely managed by individual states, leading to significant variation in how these policies are framed and implemented.
- Both State and Central governments have tools at their disposal to address the harms associated with alcohol use through comprehensive public health strategies.
- These include limiting the availability and marketing of alcohol, increasing taxes, enforcing drunk driving laws, and investing in effective psychosocial treatments for alcohol-use disorders.
- If doorstep delivery is to be implemented, for example, states can influence consumer behavior by setting higher prices and taxes, shifting the decision from whether to order alcohol to whether to drink at all.
- Additionally, governments should collaborate with health departments and other organizations to monitor the impact of doorstep delivery on alcohol consumption.
- Companies providing these services must supply accurate data to the government to help assess the health and economic impact. If negative effects are observed, the policy should be reconsidered
6. Way forward
Develop a uniform national policy that sets minimum standards for alcohol regulation across states while allowing states the flexibility to address local needs and concerns. This can help reduce the wide variation in policy implementation and effectiveness
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For Prelims: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains: GS II - Government policies regarding alcohol consumption and online sale
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Source: The Hindu
