Indian State Alcohol Policy Overview
Alcohol prohibition varies widely across India's states. The sale and consumption of alcohol is legal in some states while it is illegal in others. The minimum age at which alcohol consumption is authorized also varies by state.
Consumption and Distribution of Alcohol
The sale and use of alcoholic beverages is legal in the following states: Each of the following Indian states:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur (with the exception of the districts of Imphal West and Thoubal)
- Meghalaya
- Odisha
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Uttarakhand
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
In different parts of India, the age of legal drinking is different. In most countries, the minimum age to purchase alcohol is 21. The minimum age to purchase alcohol is 21 nationwide, but some states, such as Goa and Kerala, lower that to 18.
The sale and consumption of alcohol is illegal in the following states:
- Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
Consumption of Alcohol in India
- Alcohol use is on the rise in India. In 2016, the WHO reported that annual per capita alcohol consumption in India was 5.7 liters. This is a huge jump from 2000, when annual per capita consumption was only 3.5 liters.
There are a lot of causes for the increase in alcohol consumption in India.
- Rising prosperity; expanding cities; shifting social mores; broader access to alcohol
Health Effects of Alcohol
There are many potential health risks associated with alcohol use.
- Toxic alcohol effects include: liver damage, heart disease, cancer, psychological issues, and dependence on alcohol.
Traffic Accident and Alcohol
- In India, alcohol plays a significant role in car crashes. The National Crime Records Bureau found that in 2016, drinking contributed to 25% of traffic accidents in India.
The Link Between Alcohol and Family Violence
- In India, alcohol is a key contributor to domestic violence. The National Commission on Women found that 40% of recorded occurrences of domestic abuse involved alcohol in 2016.
Alcohol regulations in India are different from one state to the next. The minimum age at which alcohol consumption is authorized also varies by state. Alcohol is a key contributor to both road accidents and domestic violence, both of which are on the rise in India.