The Centre has no plan to impose ban on liquor consumption across the country but can help the state governments in imposing prohibition in their respective states, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
A total of 2927 people had died due to consumption of illicit/spurious liquor between 2012 and 2014, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said, while replying to questions.
The central government can help states but it has no plans so far for a national level prohibition on liquor, he said.
Ahir said a total of 2.83 crore litres of liquor was seized in 2014 under the Excise Act, which included over 91 lakh litres of 'desi' or country-made liquor.
Similarly, 1.15 crore litres of factory-made and over 76 lakh litres of "other" liquor was seized in the same year.
Till June this year, various enforcement agencies had seized 1366.35 kg of amphetamine, 6.51 kg of cocaine, 44,811.82 kg of ephedrine, 38,418.89 kg of ganja, 1,144.12 kg of hashish, 351.12 kg of heroin, 16.57 kg of ketamine, 663.15 kg of opium, 205150 bottles of cough syrup phensidyle, 12,903.41 kg of poppy husk, 34,018.34 kg of poppy straw and 43.74 kg of pseudo-ephedrine.
States of Gujarat, Nagaland and Bihar as well as in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep have imposed total alcohol prohibition while the sale is restricted to parts of Manipur. Kerala has been implementing prohibition in a phased manner since 2014.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been campaigning for prohibition in other states after bringing a tough law in his home state. Bihar’s new law will make culpable all adults of a family if any member is found drinking, possessing or selling liquor from the premises they occupy.
