Citing SC order, PMK tells TN govt it has powers to ban liquor

CHENNAI: Pointing out a recent Supreme Court order that clarified that State governments have the power to regulate the sale of alcohol, PMK founder S Ramadoss urged the Tamil Nadu government to implement prohibition without pointing fingers at the central government.

In a statement, the senior leader said that the judgment was issued while hearing a case pertaining to the regulation of industrial alcohol. The order says that even though industrial alcohol falls under a different category, it is intoxicating. Ramadoss cited the verdict and said that regulating alcohol is under the State list, and the central government could not intervene.

In this backdrop the Tamil Nadu government’s claim to abolish liquor once the Centre brings in a prohibition policy falls flat, the PMK founder said. “After the judgment, the DMK government cannot delay taking a call on prohibition. Liquor consumption is leading to 2 lakh deaths every year in the State. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of accidents, suicides and mental disorders which are also linked to liquor abuse in many cases," he added.

Warning that the government will be forced to spend Rs 90,000 crores to treat liquor addiction if the present policy of promoting booze continues, the PMK leader said it far outweighs Rs 50,000 crore revenue earned by the exchequer. Ramadoss further pointed out that liquor consumption reduces production capacity by 20 per cent, hitting the State’s GDP. “This will cause a loss of Rs 6.30 crore lakh,” claimed the senior leader.

"If the government intends to develop the state, it should implement prohibition without waiting for the central government," he urged.