Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Delhiites as young as sixteen years have taken to alcohol in a big way during the ongoing cricket World Cup, says a survey by a commerce chamber adding that the total liquor consumption has also doubled.

Around 3,500 cricket lovers from cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata in the age group of 16-45 were interviewed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) under the aegis of its Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

It was found that drinking in the age group of 16-20 had risen by a thumping 100 percent, an official said.

“Cricket fans in every nook and corner of India share a passion for their favourite team and players. But, the worrisome aspect is that youngsters are drinking excessively as they seem to connect sporting events with consumption of alcoholic beverages,” said Assocham national secretary general D.S. Rawat.

Youth in Delhi were closely followed by those in Chandigarh and Bangalore. Mumbai came in fourth place followed by Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, the report said.

“Youngsters between 16-20 years who consumed one to two litres of beer a week have doubled their consumption during the day-night encounters. The consumption further increases to three to five litres a week when India is playing,” said Rawat.

According to the survey, beer was the most popular drink as about 45 percent of the respondents preferred it over whiskey (30 percent) and other liquors like vodka, wine and rum constituted the remaining 25 percent.

Those between 21-25 years have increased their consumption from three to four litres of beer per week to five to six litres, soaring to seven litres while watching India’s matches with their peer group, the survey said.

“Easy availability of alcoholic beverages, cricket fever, lack of parental supervision, peer pressure, a means to de-stress and unwind are reasons for such an increase,” added Rawat.