Long renowned for its immaculate beaches, abundant biodiversity, and distinctive culture, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a charming archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. However, there has been a worrying trend in recent years: the region’s alcohol consumption has increased significantly, as seen by the most recent data from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO), which shows a notable growth in liquor sales. ANIIDCO’s liquor sales in the fiscal year 2022–2023 skyrocketed to 267.32 crores, a sharp increase from 191.46 crores the year before.
The Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) segment, which continues to be the company’s main source of income and accounted for more than 57% of its total turnover of 465.54 crores in FY 2022–2023, is largely responsible for ANIIDCO’s expansion. Being the only distributor of alcohol on the islands, ANIIDCO manages the supply of alcohol to every bar and only distributes it through its own retail locations. The company has a major influence on the local population’s access to alcohol. Even though liquor’s retail costs haven’t moved much in recent years, the spike in sales suggests that people are drinking more of it.
The already overburdened healthcare system will be further burdened by the increase in alcohol usage. High levels of alcohol consumption over time can cause serious physical and mental health problems that need immediate medical intervention. The situation is made even worse by the absence of access to cutting-edge medical facilities for illnesses linked to alcohol. Chronic alcoholism frequently results in social issues in addition to its negative effects on the body and mind. In addition to the negative effects on health, rising alcohol use is also causing an increase in alcohol-related crimes throughout the islands.
