As the debate over an alcohol ban grows across India, 15 people die every day - or one every 96 minutes - from the effects of drinking alcohol, reveals an analysis of 2013 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the latest available. The per capita consumption of alcohol in India increased to 38 percent, from 1.6 litres in 2003-05 to 2.2 litres in 2010-12 , according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, which also revealed that more than 11 percent of Indians were binge drinkers, against the global average of 16 percent. The data explain the wide political support for crackdowns on alcohol, although experts point out that alcohol is a health problem - not a moral one.
In Tamil Nadu, 500 liquor stores were shut down on May 23. In April, Bihar imposed prohibition - a ban on the sale, production and consumption of alcohol. In August 2014, Kerala restricted the sale of liquor…
