Most traditional Hindus have said unequivocally that they do not approve of the use of booze, which is considered unclean since it may lead to a loss of control.
Drinking alcoholic drinks is considered as a sign of
adoption of Western ideas and alienation from one's origins among wealthy
Indians, yet drinking is typically seen as a waste of money required to sustain
a family among poorer citizens, especially workers.
For all of these reasons, imposing complete or partial
prohibition has become an important feature of election agendas aimed towards
traditional and orthodox Hindus.
Prohibition was implemented in three Indian states in 1997:
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana.
Gujarat is the only one of these three with a lengthy
history of prohibition, while prohibition was enforced in Andhra Pradesh in
1995 and Haryana in 1996 to fulfill campaign pledges made during those years'
state elections.
The implementation of prohibition in both situations sparked
massive bootlegging and illicit distillation.
