No plans for nationwide alcohol prohibition: Govt

The Centre can help state governments on the issue of imposing prohibition in their respective states but as of now it has no plans to impose ban on liquor consumption across the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, while replying to questions, said 2927 people had died due to consumption of illicit/spurious liquor between 2012 and 2014.

Of these, 731 died in 2012, 497 in 2013 and 1699 in 2014. The central government can help states but it has no plans so far for a national level prohibition on liquor, he said. Ahir said a total of 2.83 crore litres of liquor was seized in 2014 under the Excise Act, which included over 91 lakh liters of 'desi' or country-made liquor.

Similarly, 1.15 crore litres of factory-made and over 76 lakh litres of "other" liquor was seized in the same year. Till June this year, various enforcement agencies had seized 1366.35 kg of amphetamine, 6.51 kg of cocaine,  4,811.82 kg of ephedrine, 38,418.89 kg of ganja, 1,144.12 kg of hashish, 351.12 kg of heroin, 16.57 kg of ketamine, 663.15 kg of opium, 205150 bottles of cough syrup phensidyle, 12,903.41 kg of poppy husk, 34,018.34 kg of poppy straw and 43.74 kg of pseudo-ephedrine.