NEW DELHI: Even as the national Capital remains shell shocked over the gruesome rape of the 23-year-old, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested clamping down on alcohol availability and raising liquor price to reduce its consumption as an important intervention to reduce violence — both sexual and physical — against women.
International studies conducted by the global health watchdog have found that a 1% increase in the price of an ounce of pure alcohol would reduce the probability of intimate partner violence against women by 5.3%. A 10% increase in the excise tax on beer would reduce the probability of child abuse perpetrated by females by approximately 2%. And, a 10% increase in the price of beer would reduce the number of college students involved in violence each year by 4%.
The WHO has sent member states strategies that prove the link between alcohol and violence against women and provides countries like India ways on how they can prevent homicides by reducing alcohol sale times.
It says that changes to permitted alcohol service hours have been implemented in several countries to address alcohol-related harm, including violence.
Studies assessing the impact of interventions to reduce alcohol service hours have been carried out in Brazil and Australia which have resulted in significant reductions in violence. WHO in its recent meeting on this issue actually ended up agreeing that police activity is central to many violence reduction strategies in drinking environments.
This can include highly visible policing of areas associated with alcohol-related disorder, and enforcement activity in licensed premises.
WHO said, "Crime data in the city of Diadema indicated that 60% of murders and 45% of complaints regarding violence against women occurred between 23:00 and 06:00 hours. Many murders took place in areas with high concentrations of drinking establishments, while violence against women was often linked to alcohol. In response, in 2002, a municipal law was implemented that prevented alcohol retailers from selling alcohol after 23:00 hours. Assessment of the impacts of the regulation, estimated that it reduced homicides by almost nine per month, representing a 44% reduction and preventing an estimated 319 homicides over three years."
The WHO adds that the price of alcohol can be increased through increased taxation, state-controlled monopolies, implementation of minimum prices for alcohol and ban on liquor promotions.
It said that alcohol-related violence occurs in and around drinking settings (pubs, bars and nightclubs). Internationally, over half a million people die from interpersonal violence each year and millions more are victims of non-fatal violence. In 2004, violence was one of the top 20 causes of death and disability globally for many forms of aggression, such as intimate partner hostility and child maltreatment, victims can suffer repeatedly and for many years without such abuse coming to the attention of authorities.
Alcohol consumption is connected to more than 60 diseases being a risk factor for esophageal cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis of liver, homicide, stroke, psychiatric illness and motor vehicle accidents. Around 25% of road accidents in India are alcohol-related and 20% of accident-related head injury victims seen in emergency rooms of hospitals have consumed alcohol prior to the accident.
The Indian government spends nearly $5 billion every year to manage the consequences of alcohol use, which is more than its total excise earning of $4.8 billion.
The Union health ministry had earlier sais that the average age of alcohol consumption in India has been constantly falling by nearly nine years over the past decade.
At present, on an average, Indians take their first sip of alcohol at the age of 19 compared to 28 in the 1990s. Soon, experts say it will reduce to 15 years.
Nearly 62.5 million people in India drink alcohol with the per capita consumption being around four litres per adult per year.
For every six men, one woman drinks alcohol in India.
WHO suggests raising liquor price to curb violence against women
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WHO suggests raising liquor price to curb violence against women
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WHO suggests raising liquor price to curb violence against women
