Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101253630600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Alcohol control policy is on the anvil, says Anbumani Ramadoss

Special Correspondent

It will be largely recommendatory because prohibition is a State subject

Guidelines may deal with regulating number of shops, pricing
Minister renews appeal for total prohibition in State

CHENNAI: A national policy for alcohol control will be launched soon, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said on Saturday.

The Union Health Ministry has been working on the policy over the past month, obtaining suggestions from experts and scientists, and it will be ready in a few months. While the concrete aspects will be finalised only after the consultations are completed, the guidelines may deal with areas such as regulating the number of shops vending alcohol, their working hours and the pricing of products, he said.

Dr. Anbumani clarified that the policy would be largely recommendatory because prohibition was a State subject. He once again appealed to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to implement total prohibition in the State.

Dr. Anbumani said the rule to depict pictorial warnings on packs containing tobacco and related products would come into force on December 1. The implementation of the rule was hampered by a series of cases filed by workers of the tobacco industry and manufacturers.

However, only two cases were remaining, and the Ministry hoped to resolve them by December.

Expressing satisfaction over the implementation of the ban on smoking in public places, he said there was an overwhelming response in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi. Tamil Nadu was doing well, but needed to do a little more, he said, speaking after a seminar on the alcohol control policy organised by Pasumai Thayagam, an NGO.

The Centre will soon launch a campaign, advertising gross pictures to highlight the ill effects of smoking, as part of its strategy to persuade people to kick the habit, he said.

Swami Agnivesh, leader of the World Council of Arya Samaj, congratulated the Pattali Makkal Katchi on being the only party in favour of complete prohibition. All religions condemned the consumption of alcohol, he pointed out, holding political parties and State governments responsible for the destruction of many families. Experience had proved that prohibition in select States alone might not work, so a national policy was essential, he said.