Covid-19 has done for Kerala what no spiritual guru could
People can change for better in the time of calamities. Covid-19 has proved it once again. Kerala has shed its fancy for alcohol during the lockdown. The state came under lockdown on March 23 but allowed liquor outlets to remain open. After the national lockdown was announced, the state decided to close down state-run 301 liquor outlets across the state as large crowds flocked to the outlets, violating social distancing norms. It was for the first time in the post-Independence era that Kerala was imposing alcohol prohibition for 21 days in the state.
Kerala has the highest per capita annual alcohol consumption in India with over 8 litres per person. The state, with 33.34 million population, has around 37 per cent alcohol users. A recent study published by the India Psychiatry Journal reveals that among the alcohol users, 4.8 per cent are heavy alcoholics with withdrawal symptoms if their regular supply is denied. The state government earns a revenue of Rs 2,609 crore from the sale of liquor in the state.
So the government was worried about the fallout of total prohibition in the state. After liquor sales were banned, many alcoholics had gone mad across the state as the withdrawal syndrome gripped them. Some of them were admitted to deaddiction centres. Within three days, around six persons committed suicide in the state. Some left suicide notes saying that they were committing suicide after they could not source their daily drink. The state excise department decided to provide liquor to heavy alcoholics who could submit a doctor’s prescription for liquor quota. But Indian Medical Association objected the move and Union Health Ministry also directed Kerala to not provide liquor during the lockdown.
Meanwhile, 32 persons submitted prescriptions for liquor quota. The state government dropped the plan after the High Court of Kerala struck down the government order.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to alcohol-loving Kerala to seek medical care from “Vimukthi” Centres (deaddiction centres) opened by state excise department and abstain from the use of alcohol. It has displayed a great impact it seems. Around 50 persons have approached de-addiction centres daily for medical help and none committed suicide after the initial trauma. The excise department also launched tele-counselling for heavy alcoholics in the state.
Kerala has learnt how to bid goodbye to alcohol. It’s Covid-19 that helped them be sober. Covid-19 could achieve a rare feat; something spiritual gurus and moralists could not do. Housewives in Kerala cannot thank Covid-19 enough for bringing peace into their homes.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)
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