Toxic Brew: The Dark Side of India's Liquor Black Market The recent tragedy in Madhya Pradesh, where 11 people died and over 30 were hospitalized after consuming suspected toxic liquor, serves as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in India's illicit liquor trade.
While the government's promise to launch an inquiry and take "strictest possible action" is welcome, it raises questions about the broader context of this phenomenon.
A Tainted Industry India's liquor industry has long been plagued by the existence of illicit liquor dens that operate with impunity due to a regulatory environment favoring large scale producers over small time vendors.