After meeting the victims of adulterated liquor at Krishnalanka in Vijayawada on Tuesday, the leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy tempted to make a statement on ‘total liquor ban’. Demanding Mr Chandrababu Naidu-led AP government to ban the liquor in the state, Jagan has stated that ‘his party would ban liquor completely if comes to power’.
The statement is considered as the most inexperienced, amateurish statement by Jagan as ‘ban on liquor’ is easier said than done. Ban on liquor might be considered as good politics, as this would get support of women in rural areas, but definitely it’s a bad economics.
Liquor is main revenue source of any state government. Given that the successor state of AP is going through acute financial crisis, banning liquor is something the government even can’t think of. Also, ban on liquor will have huge effect on tourism and thus revenue.
At a time AP government is trying to make Amaravati as world-class capital and AP as global state, banning alcohol is definitely not a wise idea. Even political-wise, Jagan Reddy’s statement is not so good. It is expected to bring flak from within his own party and its leaders.
And men who drink alcohol would definitely turn against YSRCP as this would make them unhappy and thus increase the prices of liquor. Banning alcohol will only lead to increasing revenues to neighbouring states like Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as people who would like to drink would go there.
Also, it would result in the illegal transportation of liquor from neighbouring states. Instead of a complete ban, regulating alcohol would be good idea. All we need is “Madyapana Niyantrana” but not “Madyapana Nishedham”, say social, political experts. Undoubtedly, this is Jagan’s most naive statement till date. Wake up, Jagan!