Country Liquor Research Articles

Impact of three years of prohibition on extent and pattern of alcohol use in Bihar: Observations and insights from the National Family Health Survey.

Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016 was promulgated in the state and a complete prohibition on alcohol was declared within the state of Bihar. We aimed to assess the impact of the prohibition on extent and pattern of alcohol use in the state of Bihar using the National Family Health Survey data. We also compared the data from Bihar with the data for the whole country, its neighbouring states and the state of Gujarat. There was a 41.78% reduction in the proportion of men who reported alcohol use in Bihar. Among those who reported alcohol use proportion of those who used 'almost every day' reduced by 29.72%. There was a 69.56% reduction in the proportion of women in Bihar who reported alcohol use. There was a significant increase in proportion of men reporting use of tadi madi and country liquor. Since the prohibition of alcohol in the state of Bihar there has been a reduction in self-reported alcohol use among men and women. However, alcohol use continues to be reported in the state even after the prohibition. There are states in the country that have similar extent of alcohol use as compared to Bihar, despite lack of prohibition. This warrants a relook at the policy to address what the prohibition could not achieve.

Aluminium Leukoencephalopathy in an Alcoholic Patient

Potentially toxic elements have a wide range of use for human mankind. But with those applications, they also have a darker side with its impact on human health. The affection of potentially toxic elements in humans causing neurological symptoms is also well known. Out of those potentially toxic elements, aluminium is known to cause dialysis encephalopathy in chronic kidney disease patients in the past. Aluminium leukoencephalopathy resulting from other causes is not commonly reported. To the best of our knowledge only seven cases have been reported in the literature till date. We present aluminium intoxication in a patient consuming country liquor causing leukoencephalopathy.

VISUAL SEQUELAE OF METHYL ALCOHOL POISONING: A CASE SERIES

Purpose To study the visual problems and its sequelae in the victims of acute methanol poisoning in correlation with amount of methanol ingested and time of presentation. 20 cases of acute methanol poisoning presented to theMethod emergency department with acute methyl alcohol poisoning who were treated with supportive therapy. A complete history was taken regarding the time and amount of alcohol ingested, thorough systemic examination including fundus examination was done. All 20 patients were malesResult between 24 to 55 years. Blurring of vision started in all patients within 12-24 hours of consuming liquor. Initial fundus ndings were disc edema, hyperaemia, edema of peripaillary nerve bre bundles, arteriolar attenuation and venous tortuousity and macular edema in some. Nine patients were with permanent severe visual impairment. Early presentation with prompt treatment and good nutritional status of the patientConclusion have a signicant role in preserving and improving visual acuity, though no correlation was found with the amount country liquor ingested.

Alcohol and tobacco: use and co-use in the North-Eastern Region of India, 2015-16

ABSTRACT Objectives The study aimed at alcohol and tobacco use, co-use, and patterns among both men and women of age groups, i.e., legal and underage in North-East India. Methods The study is based on National Family and Health Survey-4(2015–16). The analysis is mainly done on a sub-population from the North-Eastern Region of India, using descriptive and bivariate analysis. Results Both alcohol and tobacco use is relatively higher among men compared to women. The co-use of both substances shows approx. 34% of men consume both of the substances, whereas women show only 2.3%. Generally, alcohol is popular among younger adults, whereas tobacco is seen among the 45+ age group with co-use among 35 and above age groups. The types of alcohol consumed show that country liquor is commonly used by both men and women, readily available and produced at many parts of these states as customs. The type of user tells us most of the respondents, men & women are light smokers, whereas 1/4 of the men are everyday alcohol consumers. Conclusion Along with alcohol and tobacco use, the co-use of both substances is also increasing, with underage drinking and tobacco use being prevalent in the states of North-East India.

Prospective study to analyze clinico-epidemiological profile of patients presenting with liver abscess at tertiary care centers

Background: Liver abscess is an ancient disease bothering mankind since ages and continues to be a common health problem in India. Both of its subtypes i.e., amoebic and pyogenic, continues to pose serious challenge to the Indian health care system.Aims and objectives: To determine the demographic profile of patients, to assess type of liver abscess prevalent in the region and to assess etiological factors of the disease.Methods: Study was conducted in two tertiary care and referral hospitals in the Indian national capital region and a govt. hospital in Punjab from 01 July 2016 to 31 December 2019 and the patients were followed up till June 2020 with the last recruited patient getting a six month follow up. Diagnosis was confirmed by sonography and examination of aspirate. Positive routine bacteriological culture of the pus and a positive response to routine antibiotics made up for the pyogenic liver abscess category.Results: Liver abscess commonly affects middle aged males of low socioeconomic status. Diabetics and alcohol (both Indian made foreign liquor and the local country liquor) are biggest risk factors. Majority have raised leukocyte counts while Alkaline phosphatase is the most commonly deranged liver function test marker, raised to more than twice of the normal range in most cases. Right lobe involvement, right sided pleural effusion and raised right hemidiaphragm are seen in plain chest X-ray. Fever and pain abdomen are the most common presenting complaints. USG abdomen is an effective diagnostic modality that also serves to guide intervention procedures.Conclusions: Early diagnosis and timely intervention produces best results.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 05 No. 04 October’21 Page: 473-477

Assessment of incidence and profile of neurological diseases in alcohol dependents

Background: Alcohol is known to produce toxic effects in all the systems of the body. Hence, understanding the effects of alcohol is necessary to plan perfect treatment strategies for management of alcohol dependent patient. Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the incidence and profile of neurological diseases in alcohol dependents.Materials and Methods: The study recruited 50 alcohol dependence patients attended to the hospital OPD. The selection and assessment of the alcohol depended patients are using standard DSM-IV as mentioned in the literature. Demographic data was collected from the patients using standard methods. Neurological dysfunction was assessed through physical examination. Results: Maximum number of patients belongs to age group of 31-40 years. All the participants were males. Majority are married men who were alcohol dependents. Majority of alcohol dependents are unemployed. Majority of the patients consume country liquor. Dementia and hand tremor are most commonly observed neurological symptoms in the alcohol dependents.Conclusion: The present study adds to the existing knowledge about the neurological symptoms in the alcohol dependents. The most common features observed are hand tremors and dementia. There is a strong need to undertake further detailed studies in this area for better understanding and better planning of treatment strategies.

On the Path to Forced Sobriety: The Church Spearheading the Temperance Movement

The relationship held with liquor varies from person to person; a dear friend to those habituated to drinking however, a foe to those that lost a husband, a mother, a daughter and a son to liquor addiction, be it through consumption orharm induced by another consumer(s). The case of the Mizo Christians presents a unique construct on the making of a good Christian thoroughly rooted by the British Missionaries. One necessary pre-condition to the making of a good Christian was abstention from their beloved zu implying the renunciation to the ‘thing’ that held a tread that connected them to their cultural past. Thus, making abstention the symbol of the indigenized Christian and the culture left behind. The passing of years had only increased the Church’s aversion to the drink. Government policy enforced in 1973 had caused for such varieties to be introduced in the state. Prior to the introduction of the Mizoram Excise Act, 1973, civil society had done much to curb the proliferation of country liquor. The Mizoram Presbyterian Church in particular had lobbied for ‘total prohibition’ since 1991 which resulted in the enforcement of their objective, leading the reluctant Government to implement ‘forced sobriety’ in the state.

Trends in alcohol consumption and expenditure: Analysis of household data from nationally representative sample from India.

Alcohol consumption in India has been rising at an increasing rate. A better understanding of current trends of consumption and expenditure is necessary for tackling future challenges. To determine association between household income and amount of alcohol consumed, type of beverage consumed, and expenditure on alcohol in Indian households across different income-groups for rural and urban areas. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Consumption Expenditure Survey by National Sample Survey Organization for 2011-12 in a nationally representative sample of over 65,000 households. We used estimates of average household Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) including distribution of households and persons over the MPCE range, break-up of average MPCE by commodity group. Households in India, on average, consumed 0.18 L of all alcoholic beverages per month (0.22 L in rural areas; 0.10 L in urban areas). The absolute quantity of alcohol consumed was higher among higher income-groups in both rural and urban areas. Country liquor was used by a majority across India; was used seven times more than toddy and beer, and 3.5 times more than Indian Made Foreign Liquor. Households' expenditure on alcohol was Rs.16.46 (US$0.26) per month, which was 0.98% of average total household MPCE. Fraction of average total household MPCE on alcohol in rural areas (1.14%) was almost double that of urban areas (0.62%). It increased steadily from lowest (0.5%) to highest (1.7%) income group in rural areas whereas in urban areas, it varied a little (0.5-0.8%) across income groups.

A cross sectional study of cognitive impairment in patients of alcohol use disorder attending a tertiary health care center in Central India

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have been prevalent among all societies and across the country. In India, the prevalence of AUD in 2010 as reported by the World Health Organization was 2.6% and 1.7% had reported heavy episodic drinking. AUD in India is especially important to watch out for because of consumption of country liquor and high rates of alcohol use in rural population. The aim of the study was to find the relation between AUD and cognitive impairment. Methods: The present study was carried out in the department of psychiatry of a tertiary health-care center and the data were collected from diagnosed cases of AUD. The sociodemographic profile and clinical variables were recorded in specific case report form prepared for this clinical study using Mini-Mental State Examination, Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS), and Bender Visual–Motor Gestalt Test Second Edition (BG II). Results: Of the 100 patients studied, most were young between the age groups of 18 and 30 (44.0%) years, followed by 31–40 years (40.0%), and 16.0% were above 40 years of age. Most of the patients had a history of alcohol use

Characterization of country liquor for forensic purposes: A preliminary study

Alcohol is one of the most frequent toxic substances encountered in forensic laboratories. It forms a huge workload and therefore a quick and sensitive method to differentiate various types of liquor brand is necessary. In the present study, an attempt has been made to characterize the country made liquors in Punjab by using Head Space Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). Analyses were performed on five brands of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and four brands of country liquor. Many compounds of acid, ester, alcohol and other compounds were profiled. Benzyl alcohol and propylene glycol were found only in country made liquors and can be used to discriminate the country made liquors from IMFL brand.

An epidemiological study on alcohol consumption and knowledge of its harmful effects on human health among rural adult population of adopted villages covered under field practice area of a private medical college in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Background: Consumption of alcohol among adults is a serious public health issue worldwide. However the knowledge of adverse effects of alcohol consumption on human health is very negligibly less in small towns and villages of India. Present study was conducted to determine the extent of alcohol intake and the knowledge of its adverse effects on human health among adult population.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on randomly selected 400 rural adults from a field practice area of private medical college, Udaipur.Results: Prevalence of alcohol consumption was found to be (47.25%) with (49.36%) males and (39%) females. More than half of drinkers (55.9%) were belonging to 30-39 age group. Country liquor was preferred by (68.88%) and only (17.77%) consume English (IMFL). (56%) of alcohol consumers were drinking alcohol for more than a year. Most of the drinkers (49%) were induced by their friends, (24%) were induced/influenced by their parents. (42.25%) drinkers had knowledge of harmfulness of alcohol drinking; however the awareness per se did not have statistically significant effect for alcohol consumption. Results showed that the knowledge of excessive intake of alcohol can cause harmful effects on human health like Infertility to woman, irregular menstrual cycle, cancer were statistically significant (p<0.05) gender wise, while effects like depression, sleep disturbances, alcoholic hepatises, liver disease, malnutrition were statistically not significant (p>0.05).Conclusions: There is a need to enhance awareness on adverse effects of alcohol and at least bring down consumption level among heavy drinkers through peer group/family/community involvement.

Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of alcohol consumption: Survey findings from five states in India

AimTo investigate the association between socio-demographic characteristics and alcohol consumption in India. MethodsAnalytical data were derived from household surveys conducted by the study team that included 6088 adults in five states of India (male = 3803, female = 2285). The sample was a cross-sectional selected through stratified multistage sampling design. The survey collected data on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents as well as the pattern of alcohol consumption. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the socio-demographic association with both alcohol consumption and types of alcoholic beverages consumed (distilled spirits, country liquor, home-brewed). ResultsMore than one-third of the sample respondents (38.6%, 95%CI = 29.2–48.8%) reported to be current drinkers and approximately one-fifth (21.7%, 95%CI = 4.2–31.7%) were heavy drinkers and 7.4% (95%CI = 4.6–11.6%) were heavy episodic drinkers. In multivariate analyses, age greater than 50 years (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.56–0.86), being female (OR = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.06–0.09), schooling greater than 12 years (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.50–0.75), owning land (OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.65–0.86), and living in pucca house (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.74–0.98) were negatively associated with current drinking status. Higher income (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.08–0.57) and living in urban areas (OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.33–1.78) were positively associated with current drinking status. ConclusionsSubstantial differences in the socio-demographic correlates of alcohol consumption and types of alcoholic beverages exist in India. It is recommended that intervention and prevention strategies to curb alcohol consumption should include drinkers’ characteristic.

Production and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages with Its Consequence in India: A Short Review

Brewing and drinking of various liquors was developed into an art in ancient India as well as in Karnataka. Beverages are believed to contain ethanol are mentioned in ancient Indian literature dated back to Vedic period around 2000 B. C. Ancient Indian medical texts described in details the harmful effects of excessive or indiscriminate drinking on the mind and body Ethanol or generally referred as Alcohol consumption is gradually increasing in the developing countries in the last two decades. In India, cumulative cost of alcohol consumption is more than the income due to their sale. The proportion of injuries linked to alcohol use is estimated to be 59% of all injuries in India. In 1830, Edward Dyer traveled to India and set up the India's first brewery in Kasauli. Karnataka ranks third in the country in ethanol production. India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), Country Liquor, Illicit liquor and Beer are the types of alcoholic beverages available in India.

Price Elasticity of Alcohol Demand in India.

Using a household survey conducted in 2014, this study estimates price elasticity of demand (PED) for beer, country liquor and spirits in India. Ordinary least-square models were used to estimate the responsiveness in alcohol demand due to price change. A large number of control variables were included to adjust for potential confounding in the model. Inter-district variation in alcohol consumption is adjusted for by including district fixed effects. Alcohol prices are negatively associated with demand for alcoholic beverages. The PED ranged from -0.14 for spirits to -0.46 for country liquor. Low level of education was positively associated with spirits consumption. The magnitude of elasticity varied by rural-urban, education and gender. Results indicate that a policy mix of price controls and awareness campaigns would be most effective in tackling the adverse effects of harmful drinking in India. The demand for beer, country liquor and spirits is negatively associated with its own price. The elasticity estimates ranged from -0.14 for spirits to -0.44 for country liquor. The elasticity estimates varied by rural-urban, gender and by education levels of the drinkers.

Grid Interactive Solar Powered Automated Bottling Plant Using Microcontroller

In this study, attempt has been made to develop digital controller using a microcontroller to automate the bottling plant and to make it user-friendly for village entrepreneur of our country to increase the production of bottles filled with edible oils, country liquor alcohol, mustered oils, fruit juice, Jam, and Jelly, etc. In this era of rural industrialization, technological revolution/automation conventional plants with the manual bottle filling system are shrinking day by day due to high cost, low efficiency. As a result, the need for automated machinery is increasing in a very fast manner. To hold out the commitment of timely delivery of product and to meet the demand, hi-tech automated production even in rural areas has become essential. The grid interactive 1kW solar power supply as provided by the rural grid for 24x7days ensures the continuous production of this product. The field of automation has a notable impact in the rural society of our country. The design of the controller for automated bottling plant with limited capacity with 200 bottle capacity per shift in a day using microcontroller ATMEGA32, have been developed. The simulation study of functional and operational test on prototype unit has been performed, and the results have been found an encouraging one. The cost economy of prototype unit has been computed and analyzed, and the impact study has been carried out in rural society.

Traditional and Current Knowledge on the Utilization of Mahua (Madhuca latifolia L.) Flowers by the Santhal Tribe in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India

Mahua ( Madhuca latifolia L.) (also called as mahua) is a tree commonly found in mixed deciduous forests of Asian and Australian Continents, often growing on rocky and sandy soils. The various parts of this tree serve as food, feed, and medicine, thus form a part and parcel in the sustainability of livelihood of the tribal people. A study was conducted in 2009 among the people of Santhal tribe in Odisha, India to get information (traditional and current) on the uses of this tree species, particularly on its edible flowers. The study area concentrated in and around the deep forest pockets of Chandbill village of Bangiriposi Block on the northern border of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha. This tree species is found to substantially contribute to all sectors of tribal economy like food (flowers), beverage (flowers), and medicine (flowers, seeds and bark). Mahua flowers are fermented in to a distilled alcoholic beverage (country liquor, locally called “ ) in household and commercial scale. , having an alcohol mahuli” Mahuli percentage of 30-40 %, is used as a supplement to rice as staple diet in their food habit.

An overview of Indian alcohol industry

India is the third largest global spirits market by volume in the world, just behind China and Russia. In some states, certain alcoholic beverages like wine and beer can be sold in supermarkets that further increase the availability. The Indian alcohol industry is a high-risk industry, on account of the high taxes and innumerable regulations governing it. The Indian liquor industry comprises the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), country liquor, foreign Liquor Bottled in Origin (BIO), illicit alcohol, beer and wine segments. The overall IMFL market is increasing at the rate of 9 to 10 per cent annually and growth rate of 11.9 per cent in the last financial year (2011-12). Country liquor produced in local licensed distilleries and is made of cheap raw material, primarily rectified spirits of grains or molasses. The production cost for country liquor is low; the excise duties are also lower than they are for other liquor. Beer has become a popular beverage in the country only over the last two decades and it's growing at a rate of about 17 per cent per year. Imported liquor forms a very small part of alcohol consumption in India and growing at the rate of 25 per cent annually. Illicit alcohol also evades all national and state-level taxes and duties, thus, making it very cheap and affordable. South India dominates the alcohol market in India, with that region accounting for about 60 per cent of total IMFL sales and 45 per cent of total beer sales. The state governments receive a large part of their cash flow from this industry. The state governments should be allowed to make state-specific rules, which should be in conformity with the national legislation.

Methyl alcohol poisoning causing putamen necrosis.

Sir, I read with great interest the article by Singh et al. published recently in your journal.[1] The authors described a 50-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with chief complaints of giddiness, vomiting, abdominal pain, and blurred vision. On examination, altered sensorium was found, and high anion gap metabolic acidosis was detected in arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. According to the suggestive history, chief complaints, and the ABG reports, methanol poisoning was considered in the absence of definitive diagnostic facilities. On the follow-up, patient suffered bilateral basal ganglia damage. I would like to address some points in this paper. Consumption of home-distilled alcohol or country liquor may cause sporadic or mass methanol poisoning, especially in some countries such as Iran and India where poverty-ridden population exists or production and dispersion of illegal, nonstandard or adulterated alcoholic beverages remain widespread.[1,2] Gas-liquid chromatography is not available in most of the poison centers in these countries to determine serum methanol levels, but the combination of metabolic acidosis, visual problems and abdominal pain should always suggest methanol poisoning as was the case in this report.[3] Moreover, putamen necrosis stated in this case can occur in methanol poisoning even with normal ABG analysis.[4] However, one point about this patient is of concern. Was hemodialysis performed in this patient? If not, what was the reason? As you know, hemodialysis for treatment of methanol poisoning appears ideal because methanol, owing to its low molecular weight, is easily dialysed, as are its toxic metabolic products.[5] Furthermore, this method facilitates the correction of metabolic acidosis and other metabolic derangements that may have a role in the neurologic sequelae including putamen necrosis.[4] Pappas and Silverman recommended that hemodialysis be instituted promptly, independent of the initial serum methanol level, if one of the following features is present: (a) Metabolic acidosis, (b) visual disturbance or (c) a history of ingestion of more than the accepted minimum fatal dose (30 ml of absolute methanol).[6] Two of them (a and b) were evident in this case. By the way, a recent study conducted by Hekmat et al. showed that when the antidote fomepizole is not given for any reason, physicians should lower the threshold level for initiating conventional hemodialysis in acute methanol poisoning.[7] Indeed, when aggressive intervention such as hemodialysis is not available or feasible, only new antidote fomepizole would benefit the patients and may withdraw the hemodialysis from treatment strategy. Thank you very much for your interesting case report.

A cross-sectional study to determine the pattern, health-related problems and social aspects associated with alcohol use among adults of the rural population in Pune, Maharashtra

Background: The increasing production, distribution, promotion and easy availability of alcohol have resulted in alcohol-related problems emerging as a major public health concern. It is a causal factor in more than 60 major types of diseases and injuries and results in approximately 2.5 million deaths each year. It is also a known risk factor for increasing crime, work absenteeism, loss of productivity, damage to property and physical and emotional abuse of women and children. Objectives: The aim was to find out the pattern, health related problems and social aspects associated with alcohol use among adults of a rural population of Pune, Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a rural field practice area of the Medical College in Pune among 300 respondents during January 12 and February 12. Pretested WHO designed alcohol survey questionnaire was used for collecting data by interview after obtaining informed consent. Results: Out of 300 respondents 45.7% (137) were found to be alcohol-user. Among these 35.77% were daily drinkers.' The most common alcoholic drink consumed was desi (country) liquor (33.5%). Daily drinking was found to be related to adverse health related events. Poor health status, deprivation of family, increasing occurrence of unintentional and intentional injury, the greater extent of health problems were significantly higher among users. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption was high among adults in rural population. The study has also revealed negative impact of alcohol on both, user and their family.

Consumption Pattern of Tribes in Kondhamal District of Odisha

The objective of the paper is to analyse the consumption pattern of the tribals in Kandhamal district of Odisha which is one of the tribal dominated districts of the state. Kandhas are the principal inhabitants of the district. They are suffering from multidimensional backwardness. Their economy is primitive, less than self-sustained and stagnant. In the analysis of consumption pattern of tribals, among food items rice dominates and among non-food items pan, tobacco and intoxicant which includes country liquor dominates. They spend a small share of their non-food expenditure on clothing and education. The tribes spend 62.25 percent on food items and 37.75 percent on non food items. It is interesting to note that tribes spend 10.58 percent on beverages. The tribes spend 10.02 percent on beverages. The quadratic and cubic forms of regression for consumption function are found to be most suitable. The marginal propensity to consume in all forms are significant at 1 percent level. In linear model the regression coefficient (Marginal propensity to consume) is 0.858. It implies that tribes spend 85 percent of their income on consumption.