Prohibition

Most traditional Hindus have clearly
and strongly disapproved of consuming
liquor, a substance which, because it
may lead to a loss of control, is seen as
impure. Among wealthier Indians,
drinking alcoholic beverages is seen as a
habit that signals the acceptance of
Western values and alienation from
one’s roots, whereas among poorer citizens, particularly laborers, drinking is
often seen as a misuse of money needed
to support a family. For all these reasons,
the imposition of total or partial prohibition has become an effective part of
electoral platforms designed to appeal
to traditional and conservative Hindus.
In 1997, prohibition had been established in three Indian states: Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana. Of these
three, Gujarat is the only one with a
long-standing history of prohibition,
while prohibition in Andhra Pradesh in
1995, and in Haryana in 1996, was
imposed to fulfill campaign promises
made during the state elections in those
years. In both cases, the imposition of
prohibition also stimulated widespread
bootlegging and illegal distilling.