In India, approximately 160 million individuals partake in alcohol consumption, with the majority being males between the ages of 18 and 49. The country witnesses the consumption of billions of liters of alcohol annually. There are numerous states in India where liquor shops see long queues akin to those at pharmacies. India comprises a total of 28 states and 8 union territories, with six states (Manipur, Lakshadweep, Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Nagaland) imposing a ban on liquor.

Despite the prohibition on alcohol in Bihar, a considerable number of people continue to consume it.

According to the latest findings from the National Family Health Survey 5, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest percentage of both men (53%) and women (24%) who engage in alcohol consumption. On the other hand, Lakshadweep and Gujarat are among the states with the lowest alcohol consumption rates in India.

Key Finding

Alcohol consumption is higher in rural areas of India compared to urban areas. Scheduled tribes have a higher prevalence of alcohol consumption compared to other caste or tribal groups. In terms of religious groups, the percentages of alcohol consumption are approximately as follows: Hindus 20%, Muslims 5%, Christians 28%, Sikhs 23.5%, Buddhist/Neo-Buddhist 24.5%, Jains 5.9%, and others 47%.

NFHS 5:Highest Alcohol Consuming states (Men)

State	Alcohol Consumption %
All India	18.7%
Rural India	19.9%
Urban	16.5
Arunachal Pradesh	52.6%
Telangana	43.4%
Sikkim	39.9%
Andaman Nicobar Islands	38.8%
Manipur	37.2%
Goa	36.8%
Chattisgarh	34.7%

Source: National Family Health Survey 5

NFHS 5: Lowest alcohol consumption (Men)

State	Alcohol Consumption %
Lakshadweep	0.4%
Gujarat	5.8%
J&K	8.7%
Maharashtra	13.9%
Uttar Pradesh	14.5%

Source: National Family Health Survey 5

NFHS 5: Alcohol Consumption Among Women

State	Alcohol Consumption %
All India	1.3%
Rural India	1.6%
Urban India	0.6%
Arunachal (Highest in India)	24.2%
Kerala & J&K (Lowest in India)	0.2%

Source: National Family Health Survey 5

According to a survey conducted by Crisil in 2020, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala collectively accounted for approximately 45 percent of the total alcohol consumption in the country. Other states such as Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Goa exhibit higher rates of alcohol consumption.

Do you happen to know which state has the highest alcohol consumption in the country? Excluding the aforementioned states, the remaining states consume approximately 600 crore liters of liquor annually. The state imposes taxes on this alcohol, generating revenue as a result.

Excluding the states where liquor is banned, the remaining states and union territories earned a total of Rs 1,75,501.42 crore in the fiscal year 2019-20 through state excise duties on alcohol. The survey revealed that alcohol, cannabis, and other intoxicants are among the most commonly used substances in the country.

CRISIL Survey on Alcohol consumption in India, Key findings
 

In Chhattisgarh, a state with a population of approximately 30 million, around 35.6 percent of the population consumes alcohol.

About 34.5 percent of the population in Andhra Pradesh regularly consumes alcohol.

In Tripura, 34.7 percent of the population consumes alcohol, with 13.7 percent being regular drinkers.

Punjab, with a population of about 30 million, sees 28.5 percent of its population consuming alcohol, with 6 percent being regular drinkers.

In Goa, approximately 26.4 percent of the population consumes alcohol.

Around 28 percent of the population in Arunachal Pradesh consumes alcohol.

In West Bengal, a state with a population of about 10 crores, approximately 1.4 crore people consume alcohol.

Karnataka, with a population of 62 million, has approximately 11 percent of its population consuming alcohol.

In Kerala, about 19.9 percent of the population consumes alcohol.

Approximately 15 percent of the population in Tamil Nadu, with a population of 73 million, consumes alcohol.

In Rajasthan, 2.1 percent of the population consumes alcohol.

Excluding the states with prohibition, Bihar and Gujarat, Meghalaya has the lowest alcohol consumption rate at 3.4 percent.

In Uttar Pradesh, with a population of about 10 crores, approximately 14 percent, or about 1.4 crore people, consume alcohol.