As the region grapples with unemployment and political disenfranchisement, experts argue that the state’s promotion of alcohol culture may be a tactic to distract from deeper structural issues rather than addressing the socio-economic challenges at hand
Jammu and Kashmir is now undergoing a profound structural transformation marked by economic distress and widespread unemployment. On a global scale, alcohol consumption is among the key risks of death and disability and it is contributing to over two hundred diseases, injuries, and other unhealthy conditions. It appears as though the state chose to focus on attempts to criminalize drug use.
It is often argued that drugs have much more severe impacts on society, but the truth is that drugs negatively hurt the elite while alcohol which is less stigmatized, harms the masses. These two substances are very harmful, drugs kill people who use them, resulting in addiction, mental illness, and social disintegration. Alcohol, on the other hand, may be less stigmatized but it does not confer any less damage to society as it leads to domestic violence, health problems, and social instability.
There seems to be a societal difference in the treatment of the two, with alcohol being normalized and where there is a criminalisation of drugs, it seems more a matter of class than actual societal harm. In the midst of this turmoil, a troubling trend is emerging: the normalization of alcohol consumption. This shift raises serious concerns about the state’s approach to managing public dissatisfaction. Rather than addressing the root causes of economic stagnation and political exclusion, the increasing institutional promotion of alcohol culture seems designed to pacify frustrations, particularly among the unemployed and politically marginalized majority.
While States like Bihar and Gujarat have chosen to ban liquor consumption for social and public welfare reasons, policies in J&K seem to be moving in the opposite direction, masking systemic contradictions rather than resolving them. The region’s economic challenges are deeply rooted in a historical dependence on government jobs. As government institutions reduce their role as primary employment generators, the private sector and alternative industries have failed to absorb the growing educated workforce.
Unlike other regions of India, which have successfully built private sectors and industrial bases, Jammu & Kashmir does not diversify as easily as other regions of India because, unlike the other states, J&K does not have developed private sectors and industrial bases. There is almost no growth in the private sector, industrial growth is stagnant, and there are few, if any, sustainable employment opportunities. This has led to a chronic state of underemployment among educated youth who face a plethora of challenges related to their economic growth. Economic stagnation is not the only reason for concern, however, more recently the sociopolitical situation within Jammu & Kashmir has changed dramatically.
An elected government has been absent for over 8 years which has intensified feelings of alienation caused by policies enacted without enough local representation and the fulfillment of local needs. Without political means and agency, the population will inevitably be unhappy, particularly among young people who feel most affected by many local problems. The absence of what should be a vibrant period concentrated on political involvement and economic recovery has now become an era adjusting to socio-economic turmoil and growing discontent. The state has decided to normalize alcohol usage instead of concentrating on laws that can propel economic recovery and create significant jobs.
The explosive expansion of liquor outlets and government-driven initiatives to to boost alcohol sales point to an attempt to distract public anger away from the actual reasons of structural failures. This policy not only ignores the agitating reality of creating employment opportunities and economic stability but also aggravates social problems by encouraging more. It is often clear that societies experiencing economic crisis indulge in substance abuse, so as to relieve their stress, anxiety or worries.
In Jammu and Kashmir, institutional encouragement of alcohol drinking can lead to normalisation which is problematic in that it can put society in a vegetative condition of passive acceptance of the status quo. Such policies have wide-reaching effects. The state’s strategy promotes reliance on an industry that benefits from addiction. Instead of providing children with the tools to develop secure employment and contribute to society, the state’s strategy encourages reliance on industry. Reducing alcohol usage and allowing it to be rather socially acceptable could have major negative effects like a rise in family violence, great strain on health, and degradation of community spirit.
Alcohol provides a flimsy cover over poverty and political turmoil; it does not eliminate either. it puts an unjustified mask over them. Here, it’s most likely going to be giving rise to a new form of dependency and self-defeating strategies.In a region already burdened by political tensions and socio-economic inequalities, state-sanctioned alcohol consumption could have devastating long-term effects.
Comparative Alcohol Prohibition Policies Across India
The policies of alcohol prohibition in India differ significantly between states and Union Territories. Bihar has a complete ban on alcohol alongside other states such as Gujarat, which has prohibited alcohol since 1960, Mizoram, which reinstated prohibition in 2019, and Nagaland, which implements prohibition but with differing levels of enforcement. Lakshadweep also has a prohibition policy while other Union Territories and partially prohibiting states such as Manipur, Andhra Pradesh (2019), and Tamil Nadu (some alcohol-banned districts with strict timing) also do. Prohibition in states like Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu is far less restrictive than full prohibition states such as Gujarat and Bihar which have adopted a more conservative approach to liquor sales, recognizing the long-term harms it poses for civil society. These states more highly value the welfare of the public rather than short-term economic profit, knowing full well that enabling alcohol affectionately increases social degradation.
Considering the socio-political reality of Kashmir, one would assume policymakers to behave similarly, however, rather paradoxically, the auto policy of the state seems to use alcohol as a means to pacify the social discontent instead of solving the economic and political problems, which is profoundly surprising. This raises critical questions: Is the state’s intent truly to boost economic benefits, or is it strategically deploying alcohol as a mechanism to suppress emerging contradictions and resistance?
Moreover, the socio-cultural factors of Jammu & Kashmir are extremely complex. The area’s population is predominantly Muslim and in Islam, alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited. The government may be viewed as infringing on the religious sentiments of the majority community, which may lead to some internal contradictions and societal tension. This policy might be viewed as an attempt to erase the cultural and religious heritage of the region, which will only add to the already disillusioned community and exacerbate the existing schism.
In Jammu & Kashmir, the growing institutional emphasis on promoting social acceptance of alcohol consumption is not an unusual development. It is a sign of a more widespread economic and sociopolitical catastrophe in which pacifying measures conceal dysfunctional systems. In contrast to the governments of Gujarat and Bihar, which had the foresight to outlaw alcohol, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir appear to be using it to quell unrest rather than address the region’s political disenfranchisement and economic stagnation.
It would be more beneficial to address the underlying causes of distress by promoting economic expansion and political participation. Providing career opportunities for the youth in the region could be achieved by developing industries like tourism, handicrafts, agriculture, and the digital economy. The region’s reliance on government employment can be reduced by encouraging small business start-ups through low-interest loans and financial aid. Targeted educational and skill training enhances employability and enables the youth to become economically self-sufficient. In addition, bridging the widening gap between the people and state policies can be aided by fair and inclusive governance that embodies the hopes and dreams of the local people. Rather than promoting alcohol consumption, the government should emphasise launching awareness campaigns on the excessive use of alcohol and its effects on society while encouraging better ways to cope with stress for the well-being of the community.
In the end, the normalization of alcohol consumption by the state is not simply a case about the pervasive use of alcohol; it points towards an ungoverned state of affairs. Rather than providing real avenues to harness growth and development, the government seems to be using alcohol as a tool to contain discontent and maintain the status quo. The people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve policies that empower them to build a better future, not ones that diminish their dignity and agency through addiction and escapism.
Dr Ajaz Afzal Lone, from Baramulla, (Kashmir), is working as an assistant professor at the UILS at Chandigarh University
Dr Ashwani Kumar from Doda (Jammu) is working as an assistant professor at the UILS at Chandigarh University
Dr Ajaz Afzal Lone and Dr Ashwani Kumar
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