Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound TN

Chennai, Mar 17 (PTI) Its election time and prohibition
is back in focus in Tamil Nadu where the dry law was lifted
about five decades ago.
Political parties, including the ruling AIADMK,
opposition DMK and Congress, have pitched for a complete ban
on liquor, albeit in a phased manner, making the promise in
their respective manifestos for the April 6 assembly
elections.
Total prohibition was in force in the state from 1937
to 1971 when the then DMK government headed by M Karunanidhi
lifted it first.
The AIADMK and DMK have both bet on phased re-
introduction of prohibition and closure of liquor outlets in a
staggered manner in their manifestos.
PMK, an ally of AIADMK, and MDMK, a partner in the DMK-
led front, have also made an assurance to ensure liquor-free
Tamil Nadu.
While the DMK has also promised de-addiction centres, its
ally Congress has presented a detailed roadmap for
implementation of prohibition in its separate manifesto.
Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam chief Tamizharuvi Manian, who has
been in the forefront of anti-liquor campaign for years, is
not impressed much by the promises.
"The mention of bringing prohibition in the manifestos
of AIADMK and DMK is just a passing reference which indicates
there is no commitment to implement it," he told PTI.
Manian, a Gandhian and former Congress leader who has
held several campaigns against liquor, said he would continue
to fight for the dry law in the state.
In their manifestos for the 2016 assembly elections too
the two Dravidian parties besides the Congress had assured to
enforce ban on liquor, sale of which is a major revenue earner
for the government contributing around Rs 30,000 crore
annually.
Introducing complete prohibition, which encompasses
closure of liquor outlets and a halt to production and storage
of spirits, was a hotly debated topic during the 2016 assembly
polls unlike the present election.
In 2015, the demand for prohibition peaked with the death
of Gandhian Sasi Perumal during a protest against liquor
outlets. Perumal championed the cause of a complete ban on
production, storage and consumption of alcoholic products.
As part of implementing the AIADMK's promise, then chief
minister J Jayalalithaa had issued an order closing down
around 500 Indian Made Foreign Liquor shops after assuming
power in 2016.
Prohibition is now featured in the manifestos of other
parties as well including the PMK and MDMK.
The state Congress recalled that till 1967, when it held
the reins of power in Tamil Nadu, total prohibition was in
force and there need not be any hesitation in implementing it
again.
In its poll document, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
said as soon as a 'new' government assumed office, a high-
level committee comprising experts and officials would be
formed to work towards imposing a complete ban on liquor.
While mulling a ban on alcoholic beverages, the panel
would work on ensuring that the proposed move does not lead to
brewing of illicit liquor and also look into ways to offset
the loss of revenue -from liquor sale- to the government due
to the move, it said.
Phased reduction in the number of liquor vends till
imposition of a total ban, rehabilitation units in every taluk
for people addicted to consuming alcoholic products, including
the evils of alcohol in school and college syllabi, stern
punishment for brewers of spurious liquor were among the steps
promised by the Congress.
The MDMK, in its manifesto, said liquor outlets must be
permanently shut and prohibition clamped. The Vaiko-led party
too advocated setting up a committee of experts to explore
ways to compensate the loss of revenue.
The MDMK would continue to work for a liquor-free Tamil
Nadu, it said, recalling Vaiko's padyatra years ago to press
for prohibition. "Complete prohibition is our goal," the
party's manifesto says.
In the past, the DMK had argued that a total liquor ban
may lead to a spurt in illicit alcohol that would affect the
people.
There were also difficulties in enforcing such a ban in
view of factors like availability of liquor in all the
neighbouring states, the DMK had argued years ago, but it
reversed its stand later and promised dry law.
Freedom fighter and Congress stalwart C Rajagopalachari
was instrumental in bringing the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act of
1937, which ensured a dry spell in the state for decades.
In 1971, when the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi
lifted prohibition, Rajaji, who was by then steering the
Swatantra party, personally visited the DMK patriarch and
requested him not to revoke the ban.
Though the DMK regime did not heed to his counsel, the
party re-introduced the ban three years later.
The AIADMK government (during 1977-81) under Chief
Minister M G Ramachandran eased complete prohibition and
initially allowed liquor only for permit holders and then such
rules were relaxed, turning the clock back to 1971.
While earlier licences were auctioned for operation of
liquor outlets, the government took over the business from
2003 with the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited
(TASMAC) becoming the sole player. PTI VGN
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)