Liquor addiction and malnutrition growing in N'Eliya district

The marked increase quoted for tenders to operate toddy taverns in the Nuwara Eliya district mirrors the growing liquor addiction of the population in the area.

In the Kotmale Divisional Secretariat area, prices offered for licensing of toddy taverns have increased between Rs. 5 - 10 million over the past year. The highest bid being for the tavern at Kasadorpitiya in Kotmale where the bid rose from Rs. 36, 100, 000 in 2017 to Rs. 46, 625, 000 in 2018! An increase of Rs. 10 million within a year.

Meanwhile the tender for the toddy tavern at Ovathalawa in 2017 which was Rs. 14, 090, 000, rose to Rs. 19, 295, 505, in 2018.

In 2017 highest bid for the tavern in Katukithula was Rs. 13, 152, 150, rose to Rs. 18, 500, 000 in 2018 an increase of Rs. 5 million within a year.

Police personnel revealed estate workers were so addicted to toddy, they would in the evenings, consume an entire bottle of toddy at the tavern itself before taking another bottle home.

Figures from the Excise Department revealed toddy taverns are located in close vicinity to estate communities. Stat i s t i c s f rom Depar tment of Census and Statistics show these areas are populated mainly by estate Tamils and the taverns in such close proximity to their habitat has resulted in large numbers of this community falling victim to liquor addiction.

District health officials added, statistics obtained by them showed a sharp rise in malnutrition among children and women in the district and said there could be a close co- relation between the growing liquor addiction and malnutrition.