On an average, one student out of five is purchasing liquor from shops in the State’s capital city and on its outskirts areas. While law restricts persons below 21 years of age from purchasing liquor, its violation is noticed in many cases.
According to a survey conducted by the Odisha Mada Mukta Abhiyan (OMMA) on around 2,000 liquor consumers in the licensed liquor shops located in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and their outskirts, at least 1.5 per cent of the total liquor customers are below 16 years.
The OMMA volunteers had conducted the survey for a week on the customers of 30 liquor shops between 10 am and 10 pm.
The survey revealed that out of the total customers, the age of 18 per cent of them was between 16 and 21 while 20 per cent people were between 21 and 30. The age of around 40 per cent of the customers was between 30 and 50 and 20.5 per cent were above 50.
Out of 2,000 customers, 420 (21 per cent) were students. The percentage of students and youths purchasing liquor in Bhubaneswar is 1.5 times higher than Cuttack. Among the student customers, most of them are residing in private hostels, and out of them 30 per cent are non-Odia.
Besides, out of the total customers, at least 36 per cent are daily labourers, construction workers and small businessmen and 12 per cent are unemployed youths.
As per Section 54 of the Bihar-Odisha Excise Act and Section 61 of the Odisha Excise Act, there is a provision of punishing the liquor shop owners if they sell liquor to persons below 21 years of age.
Although consuming liquor in road and public places is a punishable offence, it is not possible on the part of police to control the increasing number of drunkards. Driving vehicle under influence of alcohol is also a crime under the law.
While the Twin City police have set a record in apprehending the drunkards and collecting fine from them, students have been repeatedly advised to stay away from alcohol and other toxic products, said a senior police officer.