With more & more states imposing alcohol ban, industry will have to choose an alternative: Economist

New Delhi, Apr 11 (KNN) Recently the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has promised to impose liquor ban in the state if her party is voted back to power in the upcoming state assembly elections.

“If I am re-elected then I will prohibit alcohol in a phased manner," she said during a campaign rally on Saturday.

Alcohol prohibition in India is enforced in the states of Gujarat, Nagaland and parts of Manipur as well as in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Kerala has been implementing prohibition in a phased manner since 2014. Bihar banned alcohol sale on 5 April 2016.

Talking to KNN, Economist Bharat Bhusan called it a social motive of the states and said that the motive is social but not the political for a larger interest.

However, he said that it will affect the Budget of the states where they get maximum revenue generation from this industry.

Meanwhile, he said that many industries would be affected and the government will have to work out some alternative for the traders.

The state governments have already discussed it and they are fully prepared, he said adding that states will manage the revenue.

But the industry in states will have to move their units to some other place, he added.

He also raised the concern of the employees who are working in the factories and said staff is the point of discussion.

It will not affect the industry that much , said the Economist.

One of the exporters Amar in the country, who owns Amar Bulk Carries, said that industries are shifting their production to ethanol and Government has been doing it since 10 years.

The Government used the ethanol in petrol and diesel also but it is not harmful, even it is cheaper than the grains used in manufacturing of alcohol.

Industries have to shift to ethanol, else sooner or later they have to shut their industries, he added  (KNN Bureau)