Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance INDIA AND ALCOHOLapapaonline.org/APAPAnetwork/Meeting_Reports/files/G… · · 2009-08-24Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance INDIA AND ALCOHOL Dr.S.Arulrhaj,M.D,

Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance

INDIA AND ALCOHOL

Dr.S.Arulrhaj,M.D,Chairman- IAPA

New DelhiIndia

Alcoholism in India remains a major social evil rightfrom the time of independence. In spite of variousefforts made in the past to over-come this evil, this

abuse is increasing day by day.

India is a country whose tradition, culture and valuesanticipated the temperance movement that startedin the West in the middle of the nineteenth century.

.

Age of initiating consumption has declined from 30 to 19 years.

Alcohol use is on the increase in India (and in other developing

countries) and it is estimated that our country has 62.5 million

users.

More women have started using Alcohol in some parts of the

Country.

Per capita consumption has gone up tremendously 106.7%

2.7 lakh people die due to use and abuse of alcohol every year.

Domestic Violence is on the increase - 3000 Family abuse cases

are registered every year

Revenue due to alcohol sale is - Rs.25,000 crores in some states

of India.

About 80% of alcohol consumption is in form of hard liquor.

Branded account for about consumption.

Changing social and Economic norms promote alcohol use.

Alcohol – Consumption in India

Some Facts

Alcohol is a State subject under the 7th Schedule and different

States have different Policies, Acts and Rules.

Prevalence of use 12-20% of the population.

Regular users 6-10%.

Hazardous users around 5%.

More than 95% of Women are abstainers.

Illicit market and consumption much more than recorded sales.

Alarming increase in Alcohol consumption & per-capita

consumption.

Increase in number of new drinkers, particularly Youth &

Adolescents.

Changes in Gender – Increase in Women drinkers.

High quantity of Alcohol intake per drinking occasion.

More frequency of drinking occasions.

Alarming increase in Alcohol related problems,which include health

problems, violence, traffic accidents, injuries, crimes, homicides,

suicides, marital problems, divorces, problems at work place,

absenteeism, loss of production and numerous other social problems.

Prevalence of Alcohol Use and Drinking Patterns

The Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance (IAPA) has been formed by

like minded individuals with a vision to see a “Healthy India”

to make all efforts to sensitize decision makers and general

public and understand the need for a comprehensive strategy.

IAPA is intense on harnessing science and technology in a

clear cut action plan.

With the launch of the Indian Policy Alliance, a

global network of alcohol policy advocates continue

to be built.

IAPA’s launch is the result of a two year feasibility

study, and the gathering together of an expert group

from the Indian medical, social, public health,

research and non governmental organizations, with

core financial help from FORUT, a Norwegian

development agency.

Alcohol – Some Facts

Alcohol needs no digestion and is absorbed rapidly into the blood stream.

About 10 to 15% of alcohol users develop alcohol dependence and become alcoholic.

Alcoholism is treatable……..

The INDIVIDUAL,

FAMILY and

SOCIETY suffers.

Alcohol – THE REAL COST

Vision & Mission of IAPA

IAPA will be an advocacy body to control

availability of alcohol and reduce alcohol

related harms.

Will achieve this through Policy Intervention,

Advocacy & Capacity Building -Youth &

Women

IAPA will work in close association with

Government both Central, State & Non

Governmental Agencies.

IAPA will be a strong advocacy body on the

policies related to alcohol – Production &

Sale.

IAPA will be a watch dog for the activities of

the Industry more so on their promotional

strategies.

Supporting Alcohol Control Policies and Advocacy

IAPA will be an awareness creating body in

the society.

IAPA will invite Research to assess the impact

of use and abuse of alcohol on various fields

like family, occupation, and finance.

IAPA will support and encourage abstinence,

mainly while driving, at work spot and for

pregnant women.


Vision & Mission of IAPA

OUR OBJECTIVES To provide a forum for alcohol control

policy advocacy through meetings,

information sharing, publications,

electronic communications and other

appropriate means.

To disseminate information on alcohol

policies and best practice in policy

advocacy.

To encourage and promote governmental

and non-governmental efforts to prevent

and reduce alcohol-related harm through

effective enforcement of existing alcohol

control policies.


To conduct awareness programmes and

organise de-addiction camps

To co-operate and encourage partnership

with local, national and International

organizations and civil society to prevent

and alleviate alcohol-related harm.

To encourage research on all aspects

related to alcohol use and policies


OUR OBJECTIVES

To monitor advertising, marketing and

other activities of alcohol beverage industry

including their social aspect organizations.

To bring to the attention of governmental

and non-governmental agencies and

communities, the social, economic and

health consequences of alcohol use.

To carry out any other activities conducive

to fulfil the primary objectives of IAPA.


OUR OBJECTIVES

IAPA ORGANOGRAM

Dr S Arul Rhaj, Chairman

Dr Shanthi Ranganathan, Hony. Secretary

Dr Hariharan, Chief Executive

Dr Vinay Agarwal, Hony. General Secretary – IMA

Mr Johnson Edayaranmula, Director ADIC

(Alcohol & Drug Information Centre) India

Ms Monika Arora, Director, HRIDAY

Dr Shubhangi Parkar, Psychiatrist

Dr Nimesh Desai, Medical Supdt. – IHBAS

Dr Kshithij Urs, Director - APSA

(The Association for Promoting Social Action)


ADVISORY MEMBERS

Derek Rutherford, GAPA

Oystein Bakke, GAPA

Dr. K. Srinath Reddy

Dr Cherian Verghese, W.H.O.

Dr Vivek Benegal, NIMHANS

Shri R. K. Anand, Member of Parliament

(Rajya Sabha)

Mr Ashok Bhasin, Legal Advisor


IAPA ORGANOGRAM

PRESS MEET 3RD MAY 2005

IAPA in its press meet stressed “Alcohol is harmful to you, your family, society & India. It

damages your health, wealth, mind and peace. Quit Alcohol today permanently. Alcohol at

home kills you. Alcohol on road kills others.

Alcohol products by surrogate methods are being widely advertised in India, despite an act

on banning any kind of Alcohol advertisements.As a group of Alcohol control advocates,

IAPA’s primary responsibility will be to take cognizance of violations to the current

legislations controlling alcohol use in India and to request and advocate for new policies to

be enforced by the Government of India.”

ACTION TAKEN :

Letter to Kingfisher Airlines

Letter to Ministry of Civil Aviations highlighting the surrogate methods of

advertisements.

Proposal sent to Ministry of Health, Transport and Social Justice on

Campaign against Drinking and Driving.






Launched on May 4, 2005 by Dr. Yoganand Shastri , Hon’ble Minister of Healthand Social Welfare, NCT Delhi, by unveiling the Logo of IAPA. A Seminar was

organised on “Preventing Alcohol Abuse and Supporting Alcohol Control Policies& Advocacy”


Launch of Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance











OUR AFFILIATIONS

IAPA is affiliated to GAPA - Global Alcohol Policy Alliance

which is an international body formulated by a group of

international members with an objective to reduce alcohol

related harm worldwide. GAPA emerged from a Conference

held in Syracuse, New York, in the summer of 2000.

GAPA aims to monitor and share information on the world

wide activities of alcohol industry, including marketing and

the efforts to influence the alcohol policies in both the

industrialized and developing countries.

IAPA is partner to FORUT - an international body involved in

numerous social issues like community development,

strengthening civil society, children & youth, Alcohol & drug

abuse, humanitarian assistance et al. FORUT will be

assisting the alliance in advocating for alcohol control

policies in India


OUR RECENT ACTIVITIES

Alcohol Network Meeting of EU countries at Slovenia

Three days advocacy training at Slovania for activities related to

alcohol abuse involving representatives of other countries.

Meeting with high officials of GAPA and IAS, UK

Separate issue of GLOBE magazine related to IAPA and its initiatives.

Initiated the Development of Alcohol Atlas.

Meeting with Consultative Committee on Prohibition and Prevention

of Drug Abuse. Suggestions were initiated to sensitize NGOs and

other organizations on prevention aspect.

Proposal on Shun Drinking and Driving to the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare.



A detailed joint venture planned with Indian Medical Association, on Shun

Drinking and Driving and Road Traffic Accident.

Submitted suggestions to be incorporated in the Excise Policy to the Ministry

of Food Processing Industries.

Organized a Workshop on Alcohol Prevention Strategies for Industrial

Management and Supervisors in association with the Directorate of

Prohibition NCT of Delhi, and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied

Sciences (IHBAS).

Observed UN World Day of remembrance of Road Traffic Victims on 20th

November, 2005 at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu in association with Sundaram

Arul Rhaj’s Hospital and Dr. Arul Rhaj’s Education Foundation. About 200 –

250 truck and other vehicles drivers participated and took a pledge that they

would remember Road Traffic Victims and pledged not to increase the RTA

victims in future.

Launched a network at Haryana State

Organized a Workshop on Alcohol Prevention Strategies for NGOs and De-

addiction centres in association with the Directorate of Prohibition NCT of

Delhi, and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).

OUR RECENT ACTIVITIES


World Day of Remembrance forRoad Traffic Victims Observation at Tuticorin

World Day of Remembrance forRoad Traffic Victims Observation at Trivandrum

Accident Victims’ Kin left to fend for themselves

Call to Join Hands against

Raising Road Accidents



Our NETWORK Through our Organogram

Tamil Nadu

Maharashtra

Kerela

Delhi

Karnataka

Other Representatives being initiated at:

Punjab

Haryana

Himachal Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Jharkhand

Andhra Pradesh

Bihar

Policy Intervention in India

The World Health Organization Regional Office (WHO–SEARO) hasurged for urgent Alcohol Policy Intervention in India, due to thefollowing:

Increasing focus of Alcohol Industry in India

Increasing Alcohol use in the Region

Increasing Health impact of Alcohol

Increasing Social & Economic issues related to Alcohol in the Region



Policies Targeting Availability

Pricing and Taxation on Alcohol

Policies Targeting Physical Access

Density of Outlets

Opening Hours and Days of Sale

Minimum Legal Drinking Age should be fixed at 21 years

Server Training and Service Intervention should be mandatory

Server Liability should be enforced

Monopoly of Alcohol sales should be with the Government

Retail Availability of Beverages shall be only through licensed outlets

Regulation of Beverages according to Alcohol Strength

IAPA recommends the following Policy Options


Addressing Specific Social Contexts

Drinking and Driving shall be taken seriously

Drunken Driving Laws should be strictly enforced

Facilities for screening BAC levels shall be mandatory in all

Government Hospitals.

Treatment for Repeated Offenders shall be made mandatory

Designated Driver Schemes shall be implemented

Breath analyzer to be provided to every police officer for early

determination of violators of drinking & driving law.

There should not be any sale counters of shops near the toll tax

area on the highway



Changing Social Climates & Attitudes

Alcohol Advertising, including surrogate advertisement shall be

curtailed

Banning of sponsorship of any kind of events by the alcohol

industry.

Censorships of scenes portraying drinking in Cinema & Visual

Medias shall be strictly enforced

Mass Media Educational Campaigns shall be made mandatory

School-Based Education made compulsory

Promotion of Media Advocacy

Beverage Alcohol Labels should contain information about drink

sizes, alcohol content and also legible health warnings




Provision for Treatment & Rehabilitation

Provision for Early Intervention shall be provided through Primary Health Care Settings

Specialized De-addiction facilities shall be started attached to all Government Hospitals

High Risk Intervention programmes shall be organized in Prisons, Slums, Coastal areas, Tribal Colonies, etc.

Work Place Programmes shall be made mandatory in all Industries

Community De-addiction Camps shall be regularly organized with the support of Specialized NGO’s and Hospitals.

Integrated & Holistic Approaches should be encoraged (Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Acupuncture, Yoga, etc.)

Aftercare & Rehabilitation should be given more emphasis



IAPA Recommends the followingStrategic Policy Objectives

Create social conditions that do not pressure individuals,

especially children to initiate or increase Alcohol consumption.

Educate, encourage and support current users to reduce and

give up Alcohol use.

Minimize the harm to non-users from others’ consumption of

Alcohol at home, work places and public places


Our Future Programmes

School Parliament on Alcohol for youth

Campaign on Shun Drinking & Driving

Empowerment of Women


DRINKING & DRIVING

Major Public Health Problem in India

500,000 Deaths from Injuries yearly

80,000 Deaths RTA

Killer in Youngsters

Significant Economic Loss

Injury Burden 3% of GDP

50% Fatal Crash alcohol Related

Twice Fatal Drinking crash in Metros


Implementation of Laws

Awareness among Drivers

No Shops on Highways

No Shops after 8 p.m

Drinking age – 21 years

Hoardings on Highways

DRINKING & DRIVING


In 2005 – 06

the focus will be on “Drinking and Driving”

“Drinking at home kills you”.

“Drinking on Roads kills others”.

“Don’t Drink & Drive” - will be the slogan /Theme.


CONCLUSION

Support Alcohol Control Policy & Advocacy

Advocacy to Control Alcohol use and related harm inIndia

Shun Drinking and Driving

We want to see a Strong India through a Healthy India ,

Free from Alcohol Abuse



IAPA’s approach can be summed up in the slogan

Less is Better Abstinence is Best

Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance INDIA AND ALCOHOLapapaonline.org/APAPAnetwork/Meeting_Reports/files/G… · · 2009-08-24Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance INDIA AND ALCOHOL Dr.S.Arulrhaj,M.D,

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