SC suggests multi-department approach to prevent hooch tragedies

The Supreme Court has recommended a multi-department strategy to tackle hooch tragedies, urging coordination among the state police, prohibition, and excise departments to identify and penalise illegal local breweries. It emphasised that these breweries are often located in semi-industrial and congested urban areas, making monitoring essential.

The court noted that history shows a complete alcohol ban often drives the liquor trade underground, increasing the prevalence of unregulated and lethal brews. It suggested that the department of industries should monitor industrial units to detect those manufacturing chemical solvents sold illegally to liquor makers. Furthermore, the court called for a comprehensive review of the rules governing the grant of licences and permits, ensuring they are issued only after thorough verification of applicants’ backgrounds and genuine need. It added that any person violating licence conditions should face suspension or cancellation of their licence and be barred from obtaining new permits.