Kerala become the State of drunkards.
The report of the National Family Health survey shows that 45 % of Kerala men belonging to the age between 15 to 49 are drunkards. The Indian average is 31.9 % only. In Kerala rural people are seen taking liquor more, with 38 % of rural males are having this habit. While in urban area the average is 29.4 %. The respective Indian figures are 28% and 22.2 %.Among the drunkards in Kerala majority are 35 or less aged. Ten years back the drinking among Kerala youth started at the age of 17, where as now it has come down to just 12 years.
Kerala population is just 3 % of Indian population. But about 18 % of total liquor sales in the country is taking place in Kerala. On an average 11 liters of liquor is consumed by a Keralite annually. This average is based on the whole population. Unless a serious thinking and realistic actions are taken, Kerala will be going to be in trouble.