'Poison' liquor still the favourite for commoners
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 28, 2022 -

Regardless of CAF & PD minister L Susindro Meitei quoting experts from Goa, who recently conducted surveys on liquor production at Sekmai, Andro, Khurkhul and Phayeng villages, as saying that the local varieties are no better than poison, there is no doubt that the local brews remain the favourite among large population of drinkers in the state.

Since time immemorial, production and use of the local liquor have been indispensible part of some specific tribal and non-tribal ethnic communities of Manipur.

Apart from its usage associated with rituals, for some liquor production has been the main source of income generation.

From the global context too, liquor has played a central role in many human cultures with researchers and historians not ruling out the possibility that the foundation of agriculture was not only based on food production but also on beer production.

In various cultures around the world drinking continues to be a predominantly social activity with specific and designated spots for drinking.

People drink to celebrate major events as well as everyday events, and for relaxation and recreation.

Various cultures may have very different attitudes, beliefs, norms and expectancies about drinking and it is reflected in the behaviours of their drinkers.

That said, liquor-related problems are generally associated with excessive drinking in any culture and as such likening the local liquor to poison seems not only exaggeration by the so-called experts from Goa but also intended to dilute popularity and marketability of Manipur's product both in the state and in the northeast region, where 'Sekmai' is a popular brand and in high demand.

Though there have been changes in the way the local alcoholic beverages are made and quantity of production, the Goa experts giving the poison tag to the local liquor would be construed as an affront to the indigenous brewers for it is known to all that the Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe local liquor producers have been taking extreme care to maintain quality and ensure that no tragic incidents occur due to consumption of their product.

Compared to periodical reports of hooch tragedies in different states, there has been no major unwanted incident linked to liquor consumption in Manipur.

Across the country, some recent cases of hooch tragedies include Gujarat's Botad district where in July this year 36 drinkers lost their lives that too in a state where alcohol is prohibited.

The incident happened barely days after a similar tragedy took a dozen lives in West Bengal's Howrah district.

Earlier this year, consumption of spurious liquor during Holi celebrations claimed around 40 lives across Bihar, another state where alcohol is banned.

Thus, it would be hard to digest for drinkers of Manipur that the local liquor they have been consuming is not alcoholic beverage but poison as has been classified by the experts from Goa.

With exception of medical experts unanimous in their opinion that excessive drinking will ultimately lead to health issues, there has been no surveys done in the past to determine toxicity of the locally manufactured liquor.

As such, the Goa experts' remarks appear to be intended to justify the state government's recent move to legalise sale of IMFL at government-controlled outlets.