The triba’ls life revolves round liquor. Most of their rituals are performed by the offering and consumption of liquor. The state governments have prohibited the distillation of liquor.
Admittedly, drinking liquor is injurious for health. But, for triba’ls, it is an abiding tradition. Efforts can be made to reduce the consumption of liquor, but the triba’ls think it as an encroachment on their tradition.
Prohibition has led to illicit distillation and the resultant police harassment and litigation. Elwin has a counter-argument against the prohibition on liquor. He says that when a tribal goes to a public vendor for drinking he learns the evil habits of urban life. Home distillation of liquor is not very easy.
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When it is brewed in the house, the elderly members of the family have also to be served; some token of liquor is to be given to be neighbours and village kin group and, therefore, it is after a considerable thought that brewing is undertaken, this discourages liquor consumption. Thus, prohibition is a great strain on tribals and needs to be improved.
