Open house: What steps can be taken to prevent incidents like Majitha hooch tragedy?

Strict measures must be implemented

The term “Hooch tragedy” refers to incidents where people die or suffer serious health consequences after consuming illicit or contaminated alcohol, often called hooch or country liquor. These tragedies are sadly recurrent in several parts of the world, especially in countries like India, where unregulated alcohol production is more prevalent. This is not the first time that such tragedy has struck Punjab. Such incidents have also occurred in states like Gujrat, Bihar Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, to name a few. The Majitha incident has sparked significant public outrage and controversy. The loss of 27 lives, means so many families losing their livelihood. It was labelled as “murder driven by greed” rather than an accident by Punjab Chief Minister. He emphasised that such a crime could not have occurred without support from powerful individuals and assured that all those involved, regardless of status, will face legal consequences. Administrative inaction in controlling hooch production is another factor. Tall claims that Punjab shall be made ‘Nasha mukt’ seems to be a dream. It is not sufficient to announce financial support to the families who have lost their earning members, but strict measures to control unregulated production, sale and movement of methanol should be implemented.

Key characteristics of hooch poisoning:

Methanol poisoning: Most hooch deaths occur because illicit brewers add methanol (a toxic type of alcohol) to increase the strength of the drink. Methanol is highly poisonous and can cause blindness, organ failure or death.

Low cost and high demand: Poorer populations often turn to hooch because it is significantly cheaper than licensed alcohol.

Lack of regulation: These brews are made in unsanitary, unregulated environments without safety checks.

This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation and enforcement against the production and distribution of illicit alcohol in Punjab. Dr KS Manchanda

More vigilance in vulnerable areas

The recent hooch tragedy which claimed more than 25 lives is a grim reminder of how this trade of illicit liquor is flourishing despite tall claims by the administration. A price war in the liquor trade and rising prices of country-made liquor drive poor people towards cheaper but dangerous and life-threatening alternatives. To avert such tragedies, the first and foremost thing is strict and prompt action by law enforcing agencies against people indulging in illicit liquor trade. Secondly, the government should consider regulating and reducing price of country-made liquor to make it safe and an affordable option for people. More vigilance in the vulnerable areas coupled with increased awareness campaigns, especially involving NGOs like Rotary, will go a long way in preventing such tragic incidences in future. Dr Rajesh Kapila

Multi-prolonged approach needed

To prevent such incidents in future, a multi-prolonged, long-term approach is needed. Some key measures that should be taken:

Law enforcement must identify and dismantle illegal production units regularly.

Use technology like drones, geo-tagging of liquor shops and AI-based pattern recognition to track illegal alcohol movement.

Amend laws to impose harsher punishment for those manufacturing and distributing toxic liquor.

Establish fast-track courts for hooch tragedy cases to ensure swift justice and deterrence.

Legal, regulated country-made liquor should be made available at affordable prices.

Launch sustained public health campaigns about the dangers of consuming spurious liquor.

Engage NGOs, local leaders and community groups to spread awareness and report suspicious activities.

Provide skill development and livelihood support to those impacted.

Identify regions prone to hooch incidents using data and deploy more resources in such areas. Nitin Tandon

Increase public awareness

No religion in the world endorses the consumption of liquor; in fact, all religions discourage or prohibit its use. However, a complete ban on liquor sales remains impractical, as it constitutes a significant source of revenue for the Punjab Government. Therefore, instead of a total prohibition, innovative and effective measures must be implemented to prevent hooch tragedies in the future. Firstly, public awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on health should be increased. For instance, health warning advertisements highlighting the dangers of liquor should be mandatorily shown before movies in theatres. Secondly, family members, regardless of age, must take proactive steps to encourage their loved ones to abstain from alcohol consumption. A strong family support system can play a vital role in curbing this habit. Thirdly, regulations governing the sale of liquor must be thoroughly overhauled. Strict penalties, such as a 10-year prison sentence and heavy fines, should be imposed on traders found guilty of selling poisonous, substandard or illicit liquor. Lastly, healthcare services should be modernised and strengthened by adopting advanced technologies used in developed countries. This will ensure quicker and more effective responses to cases of alcohol poisoning, thereby reducing the risk of hooch tragedies. Sanjay Chawla

Intensify crackdown on illegal distilleries

To prevent more hooch tragedies in the future, strict enforcement against illicit liquor production and distribution is essential. Authorities must intensify crackdown on illegal distilleries and enhance surveillance in vulnerable areas. Affordable, regulated alcohol options should be made accessible to reduce demand for dangerous alternatives. Public awareness campaigns about the health risks of spurious liquor are vital, especially in rural and low-income communities. Rehabilitation and support programmes for addicts can help reduce dependency. Finally, transparency and accountability in the liquor licensing system, along with community involvement, can play a crucial role in curbing this menace. Kanwar Sohial S Sidhu

Break nexus between authorities, mafia

The recent Majitha hooch tragedy underscores the urgent need for a multi-dimensional strategy to prevent such recurring disasters.

Robust law enforcement: Identify and dismantle illicit distillation units.

Strengthen grassroots intelligence and policing in rural belts.

Liquor policy reform: Introduce price-regulated, safe alternatives through licensed outlets.

Reassess excessive taxation on legal liquor that pushes the poor toward hazardous brews.

Political and administrative accountability: Break the nexus between local authorities and the liquor mafia.

Enforce transparent inquiry and swift action against erring officials.

Public awareness and de-addiction: Launch health campaigns highlighting the risks of spurious liquor.

Expand access to addiction treatment and rehabilitation services.

Socio-economic rehabilitation: Promote skill development and alternative livelihoods in vulnerable areas.

Enhance welfare schemes and rural employment opportunities.

Community involvement:

Empower panchayats and civil society to report illegal brewing.

Foster local vigilance committees as preventive watchdogs.

Only through integrated reforms can we ensure that tragedies like Majitha never recur in any part of the country.

Preetpal Singh Chinna

Eliminate unlicensed, illegal production

Since alcohol consumption is legally permitted, tragedies like the recent one can only be prevented through strict regulation of alcohol production. It is essential to enforce high standards and completely eliminate illegal, unlicensed production. This requires consistent checks and coordination with local bodies, panchayats and area coordinators to ensure compliance. The most vulnerable to such tragedies are the poor, who cannot afford licensed liquor and are thus driven to consume illicit hooch. These individuals often fall victim without any awareness of the dangers involved. Therefore, it is equally important to identify and punish the masterminds behind such operations, who exploit the desperation of the poor and endanger innocent lives for profit. Indu Aurora

Introduce heavy penalties, punishment

To control such types of hooch tragedies, study of Dubai laws is necessary without looking at the type of government and the religion of the country. Why near to zero crime in Dubai should be assessed. Fast decisions, heavy fine and death sentence in extreme cases. Reduction in stages of judiciary. Police Politicians and criminal nexus should be broken sternly. If any politician/policeman try to save criminals then he should be considered a co-criminal. Whoever is caught with drugs or spurious liquor either consumer or seller should be punished with the hefty fine or 10-year-jail without bail or parole. GS Bedi

Enforce limit on ethanol content

A uniform liquor policy should be implemented across all states to regulate liquor laws, increase the legal drinking age and spread awareness about de-addiction. The government should enforce strict limits on ethanol content in liquor and monitor compliance. Regular inspections should be conducted in rural areas to dismantle illegal production units and local informants should be used to track vendors selling substandard materials for spurious liquor. Accessible treatment centres equipped to handle alcohol poisoning cases should be established, especially in rural areas. Healthcare providers should be trained to identify and treat ethanol poisoning promptly. By taking these steps, we can reduce the incidence of hooch tragedies and protect the lives of people. Balkar Singh

Launch de-addiction programmes

The hooch tragedy in Majitha, which has claimed numerous lives and left many others critically ill, is a grim reminder of the dark side of unregulated alcohol trade and the vulnerability of the poor. To prevent such incidents in the future, there needs to be a strong and sustained crackdown on the production and distribution of illicit liquor, backed by stricter surveillance and accountability mechanisms within the excise and police departments. However, enforcement alone is not enough. Efforts must also be directed towards raising public awareness about the dangers of consuming spurious alcohol, alongside launching accessible and affordable de-addiction programmes. Moreover, addressing the root causes, such as poverty, lack of employment and absence of recreational alternatives, can help reduce the demand for intoxicants in the first place. A coordinated approach involving government, civil society and local communities is essential to break this cycle and protect vulnerable lives from preventable deaths.

Jatinderpal Singh

Need transparent pricing policies

The hooch tragedy underscores the lethal consequences of industrial alcohol. To prevent such incidents, authorities must strengthen enforcement against illicit alcohol production. This requires dismantling underground networks through coordinated intelligence and stricter penalties, alongside transparent pricing policies to curb monopolies and price manipulation in the legal liquor trade. The government should allow people to make liquor at home for non-commercial use like various foreign countries. This way people will not go for cheap industry based alcohol. Additionally, political accountability must be prioritised, corruption enabling lax enforcement or collusion with bootleggers must be investigated rigorously. Only a holistic strategy that merges deterrence, equitable liquor policy and community empowerment can break the cycle of exploitation and prevent such tragedies from recurring.

Narjeet Singh

Amritsar