Coronavirus: petition in Supreme Court seeking a ban on alcohol

In view of the ever-increasing cases of Coronavirus infection in the country, public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday for a ban on the consumption of alcohol and drugs. This PIL has been filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay. The petition argues that during the Kovid-19 epidemic, consumption of alcohol leads to rapid health deterioration, risky conduct, and mental health effects and violence.

It has been said in the petition that there are many types of infectious and other diseases due to the consumption of alcohol. Also, it adversely affects mental health, which makes a person more vulnerable to Kovid-19. The petition said that at least 50 percent of the number of liquor bottles and cans on both sides should be printed with warnings that it is harmful to health.

The petition states that the consumption of alcohol and drugs increases the risk of domestic violence, a crime against women as well as injury. Its consumption changes the behavior of a person which can be more deadly during the Kovid epidemic. The petition requested a direction to formulate an effective policy to ban the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating drinks in addition to medical use.