Hyderabad: The marketing and use of commercially produced alcohol is expanding and more and more young people are being targeted to increase the sales. The age of drinking is being seen as early as 15 years across the globe. Worldwide more than a quarter, 26.5 per cent of 15 to 19 year olds, are current drinkers and they amount to 155 million.
With the industry targeting the young and women to increase the sales, they are avoiding regulatory framework which is more of voluntary guidelines and has been largely ineffective.
Another barrier to strong alcohol policies has been the misperceptions around health benefits to moderate alcohol consumption.
A rigorous analysis of evidence has shown that alcohol has no net benefit from any level of consumption.
The regulations by the government must be in increasing excise taxes on alcoholic beverages to reduce affordability and also regulate the availability of alcohol which is now being seen as a major task as it involves economic considerations.
Regulation of the unorganised sector in the commercial production of alcohol is a huge challenge for the future as these are not identified and tackling them will be a major task for the governments who have to look at the health, economic and social aspects of the population.
