Seers who participated in a roundtable consultation on alcohol control for societal welfare, organised at Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga on Sunday
He said women’s organisations should unite to seek the closure of liquor outlets, while all sections of society must participate in efforts to control liquor sales and addiction. Meetings would be meaningful only if their objectives were achieved, he added.
He said widespread liquor sales for revenue conflicted with the board’s responsibility to control consumption and raise public awareness, undermining efforts to tackle alcohol-related problems. Govt should explore alternative income sources instead of relying heavily on excise revenue and adopt a policy strengthening the prohibition board while reducing dependence on the excise department, he said. Bhovi Gurupeetha seer Immadi Siddarameshwara Swami criticised govt’s dual policy of earning revenue from liquor sales while conducting awareness programmes to discourage consumption. He demanded that govt either stop liquor sales or abolish State Alcohol Prohibition Board. Calling for stringent measures, he urged govt to consider controls similar to those enforced against narcotic substances such as ganja and opium.