Dear %Member:CustomField1%,

Never before has the debate about the shortcomings of Gujarat's liquor policy been so openly expressed in Gujarat as in the last couple of months.  There has been support towards gradual and systematic relaxation of the liquor policy (such as excluding beer & wine from the list) from all corners - academia, industry, professional, press and from an overwhelming number of concerned citizens of Gujarat.  Of course, there has been considerable opposition too and we are empathetic towards some of the concerns.  Anti-prohibitionists share many of the concerns that pro-prohibitionists share but feel the current liquor policy only favors the bootleggers and the corrupt.  By claiming prohibition to be necessary for the social welfare of the economically unprivileged, the pro-prohibitionists are turning a blind eye towards the its politicization and inadequacy in meeting the same objectives.  The phasing away of prohibition is inevitable, and perhaps, is increasingly redundant since liquor is already consumed across the state.   What concerned citizens of Gujarat need to work on is towards a systematic, responsible relaxation of liquor policy, not trying to prolong it.  

Please do your bit and speak up on this issue - whether it is a work, with your friends, in the newspapers, on the MaltMarch website or at the debates planned around Gujarat.  Look at it this way - every single day Gujarat loses Rs. eight crores in taxes that the bootleggers, corrupt police, politicians and underworld mafia collect to keep prohibition in place. 

MaltMarch will be organizing lectures and debates across Ahmedabad and other cities in Gujarat.  Please email us if you would like more information or would like help in organizing a debate yourself. 

Cheers!

The MaltMarch Community

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