JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 16, 2020 “A SPATIO-TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF ALCOHOLISM IN GUWAHATI CITY, ASSAM” PRANJIT THAKURIA Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Gauhati University, Assam, India Abstract: Alcoholism is linked to many harmful consequences for the individual drinker, the drinker’s immediate environment and society as a whole (Klingemann and Gmel, 2001). Though alcohol consumption is a part of the dietary practice of the native tribal society in Assam, vis-à-vis Guwahati city, consumption of alcohol is not at all regarded as an accepted social norm. Guwahati is one of the fastest growing areas in North-East India where alcoholism is a major social problem which is engulfing today`s younger generation. The study deals with the growth of alcoholism in the city. The study was carried out with a view to analyze the spatio-temporal dimension and distribution of alcohol outlet in the city. Primary data has been generated from both the alcohol user and non user groups with purposively designed questionnaires. Apart from it GPS technology were used to portray the spatial context of the alcohol outlets and show their spatial diffusion over time and space. Keywords: Alcoholism, Alcohol outlet, Alcoholic, Spatio-temporal 1. INTRODUCTION One of the most widespread problems creating a grave in the social periphery is the problem of alcohol addiction. Alcoholic beverages occupy a prominent place among consumer goods in Guwahati city. The alcohol market in the city generates profits through increase in productivity, distribution, sale and consumption of various alcoholic beverages and incurs huge loss and harm to the society. The Eastern Bengal and Assam Excise Act, 1910 was the initial legal provision associated with import, export, transport, manufacture, sale and possession of intoxicating liquor and of intoxicating drugs, during the British period (Saikia, 2011). Under such provision there were only two wine outlets in the city and the trend continued till 1980s where medico-legally permitted users are allowed to procure and consume alcohol in a controlled manner. However, the menace of alcohol addiction has gradually gaining ground; particularly Guwahati City in the mid 80s as many of the areas of the state including the city was declared as ‘wet areas’. Guwahati is one of the largest markets in North East India in terms of volume, value, government revenue and per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages. Its growth is rapidly increasing due to increase in production. Under such circumstance alcohol addiction has become a very scene in the social landscape of the city. 1.1 Objectives of the study: The major objectives of the work are to: 1. Understand the trend of growth of alcoholism in Guwahati city. 2. Analyze the spatio-temporal dimension and distribution of alcohol outlet in the city. 2. METHODOLOGY The study is based on both primary and secondary sources of information collected from the field and relevant sources like department of Revenue and Excise, Government of Assam, Police stations of the city, NGOs involved in such fields, etc. Secondary information has been consulted from relevant sources like books, published reports, papers from research journals and magazine, along with materials available in web based platform relevant to the study. Purposively designed questionnaires were used to carry out the primary survey. GPS locations and GIS technology was used to portray the spatial context of the alcohol outlets and to show their spatial diffusion over time and space. 2827 JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 16, 2020 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Growth of alcoholism: Guwahati City ranks as one of the largest alcoholic beverage markets across Assam where four types of products found mainly IMFL (distilled spirits), Beer, wine and country liquor (Indian Made Indian liquor). In Assam overall the IMFL sales volume have increased by 14.4 times from 0.672 million cases in 1995-96 to 9.668 million cases in the year 2011-12 (Table 1). The sales volume of beer has increased by 9.4 times from 0.296 million cases to 2.794 million cases. The country liquor volume have also increased by 1.38 times from 7.715 million litres to 10.71 million litres since 1995-96 to 2011- 12.The average growth rate of 18.70 per cent in sales volume of IMFL, 16.27 per cent of beer and 2.69 per cent of country liquor have been observed in the state during 1995-96 to 2011-12 (Bijaya Kumar Nayak, 2015). Assam earned Rs 11.4413 billion from liquor sales in 2015. In Guwahati, the Excise department collected 1.726 billion rupees as excise revenue for the last year i.e.; 2015-16. Table 1 Category wise sales volume& growth of alcoholic beverage in Assam (1995-2012) Year IMFL Growth in Beer Growth in Country Growth in Country (Cases in IMFL Over (Cases in Beer Over Liquor Liquor Over millions) Previous Year millions) Previous (Litres in Previous Year (%) (%) Year (%) millions) 1995-96 0.67 - 0.29 - 7.71 - 1996-97 0.71 6.69 0.40 35.47 7.20 (-)6.66 1997-98 0.92 28.45 0.42 4.74 7.58 5.39 1998-99 9.75 5.86 0.38 (-)8.57 8.19 8.01 1999-00 1.13 16.72 0.56 46.35 8.48 3.49 2000-01 1.39 22.23 0.58 4.63 9.57 12.87 2001-02 1.89 36.52 0.98 67.01 13.31 39.07 2002-03 2.17 14.43 0.69 (-)29.12 13.80 3.64 2003-04 2.53 16.66 0.79 14.22 10.49 (-)23.88 2004-05 2.65 4.54 0.80 1.76 9.35 (-)10.96 2005-06 3.59 35.51 0.94 17.18 10.04 7.41 2006-07 3.61 0.72 1.18 24.79 9.17 (-)8.69 2007-08 4.97 37.57 1.23 4.56 8.83 (-)3.75 2008-09 6.49 30.55 1.52 23.36 9.18 4.05 2009-10 7.07 8.94 2.24 46.92 9.98 8.63 2010-11 8.40 18.77 2.44 9.19 10.21 2.36 2011-12 9.66 15.03 2.79 14.13 10.71 4.83 Source: Excise Department, Government of Assam The spread of alcohol outlets in Guwahati begun in 1900s by setting up of three wine shops namely M/s B.N.Dey & Co at Panbazar, M/s Khubsand & Sons at Kamarhatty, Fancy bazaar area and M/s S.R. wine shop at Kalapahar respectively. During 1991-2000, the growth of alcohol outlets was 1350 percent which is far most the highest growth recorded so far (Table2). Table 2: Growth of Alcohol outlets in Guwahati City Year No. of outlets %of growth Before 1980 2 - 1981-90 18 800 1991-2000 261 1350 2001-2010 413 58 2828 JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 16, 2020 After 2010 429 3.8 Total 429 - Source: Department of Excise, Kamrup Metro District 3.2 Spatial distribution of alcohol outlets: At present time (March.2016) there are 429 alcohol outlets in Guwahati city where 282 are wine shop and 147 are bars/clubs serving in the city. Those alcohol outlets are divided into two sections; on shop (Bars/Clubs/Pubs, etc) and off shop (wine shop). These alcohol outlets are situated almost every corner of the city. There are 11 Country Spirit shop in Guwahati and 15 bonded warehouse and 8 distilleries and bottling plants in the city. The maximum concentration of alcohol outlets are in Paltanbazar area having 38 registered alcohol outlets, where 17 are off shop and 21 are on shop. The survey reveals that a large number of alcohol outlets are located near the railway station and the bus station.Likewise Ganeshguri comes after Paltanbazar having 28 numbers of registered alcohol outlets. It has 15 off shop and 13 on shop which are located near the main road i.e. GS road of the area. Beltola, Zoo Road area, Fancybazar, Maligaon, Narangi, Panbazar, Kahilipara and Sixmile are the important area having large number of alcohol outlets. Total 171 alcohol outlets (40 percent) are found in the above mentioned area and rest 258 outlets are distributed to the other areas of the city. 3.3 Spatial Analysis of selected alcohol outlets in Guwahati City: The data are collected basically from few localities within Guwahati city to show the spatial distribution of alcohol outlets and to understand their distribution pattern. For this purpose a total 132 numbers of alcohol outlets are selected and collected their relative location information (Fig 1). For the data collection purpose, the area namely Paltanbazar, Panbazar, Bhangagarh, Ganeshguri, G.S. Road, Sixmile, Narangi, Maligaon and Zoo Road are selected. For collection of their specific location attribute GPS technology are used. Fig 1: Surveyed alcohol outlets in Guwahati city, 2016 Source: Based on Field survey, 2016 The study reveals that almost 80 percent of the surveyed alcohol outlets in Guwahati city are near the roads and market place. The concentration is very high in Paltanbazar area having 38 numbers of registered alcohol outlets. The concentration of on shop are high in this area of the city compare to the others area. In the surveyed alcohol outlets Zoo road area comes after Paltanbazar in terms of number of registered alcohol outlets. Zoo road area has 20 numbers of outlets that are basically located at the Zoo Tiniali point. There 9 numbers of outlets within a short distance at Zoo Tiniali point.