Telangana, the youngest state in India, has topped the list of southern states in terms of liquor and meat consumption, according to a report submitted by a state agency to the government. The report revealed that Telangana has the highest per capita consumption of liquor and meat in the region, surpassing states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

Liquor Consumption Higher Than National Average

The report, prepared by the Telangana State Sheep & Goat Development Co-operative Federation Limited, cited the statistics of the Union ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on alcohol consumption. The survey showed that 19 percent of the Telangana state’s population has been consuming liquor, which is higher than the national average of 17.3 percent.

According to the National Health Survey, Telanganites consume more alcohol than the boozers in any other state in the country. The consumption of alcohol in the state is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The report said that 61.2 percent of men and 14.3 percent of women in urban areas consume alcohol, while 46 percent of men and 2.7 percent of women in rural areas do so.

The report also compared the liquor consumption in Telangana with other southern states. It said that Andhra Pradesh has 17.3 percent of its population consuming liquor, while Tamil Nadu has 46.7 percent and Kerala has 36.8 percent. The report added that Telangana is not only the top consumer of liquor, but also the top revenue generator from liquor sales. In 2022-23, Telangana will get Rs. 33,268 crores from liquor sales, while Andhra Pradesh will get Rs. 23,804 crores, Karnataka will get Rs. 29,790 crores and Kerala will get Rs. 16,189 crores.

Meat Consumption Highest Among Non-Vegetarians

The report also revealed that Telangana has the highest number of non-vegetarians across the country, and as the demand for meat of sheep and goats increased rapidly, the cost of one kg meat hiked from Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000. The report said that Telanganites have been eating meat with meals twice or thrice in a week.

The production and sales of the meat of sheep and goats recorded at 9.75 lakh tons in the state in the last four years. The report said that the national annual per capita consumption of meat in Telangana is 21.7 kg, which is higher than the national average of 18.5 kg. The report also said that China topped the list of top 10 countries with all kinds of meat dishes across the globe, while India is also in the list with the Hyderabad Biryani, Chicken Stew and Appam, and Butter Chicken.

Government Plans to Control Alcohol and Meat Consumption

The report comes at a time when the Congress government has decided to control the sale of alcohol in Telangana, which is trying to control the increasing consumption of alcohol. The government has announced that it will remove the belt shops, which are illegal outlets that sell liquor in rural areas. The government has also said that it will impose restrictions on bars and wine shops, and increase the prices of liquor.

The government has also taken steps to regulate the meat consumption in the state, especially in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has issued guidelines for the slaughterhouses and meat shops, and has banned the sale of meat on some days. The government has also launched a scheme to distribute sheep and goats to the backward communities, to encourage them to rear the animals instead of consuming them.