27-year-old *Tariq Khan says he feels “more relaxed and secure” now that he’s left his home city of Surat in Western India.
The reason behind his new-found security has a lot to do with the illegality of alcohol in the state of Gujarat and the problems this law has spawned.
“The alcohol situation is very bad, and always has been since I can remember,” he says.
“To produce and sell alcohol is strictly illegal, consuming on the other hand has its limitations, which I think is ridiculous.”
Fact Box
Countries where alcohol is illegal:
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain*
- Bangladesh (foreigners may carry a few litres of alcohol.)
- Brunei
- India (banned in the following states: Gujarat, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Lakshadweep.)
- Iran (available for purchase for religious minorities)
- Iraq (available in selected areas.)
- Kuwait
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Pakistan (strictly enforced, though the ban applies only to Muslims.)
- Saudi Arabia (completely banned)
- Sudan
- Yemen*
- Qatar*
- UAE*
*available in hotels through private licences
In Tariq’s city, you cannot purchase alcohol as easily as you can here in the UK. Unless you’re over the age of 45 and have a permit, “the only way of getting it is if you have contacts.”
“Alcohol is like drugs, you need certain individuals who have contacts that can smuggle it in to the city from surrounding cities, where it’s legal.”
Even if you are 45 or over, according to Tariq: “you are limited to what the authorities say you can have. It could be a crate of beer or two every month, or a couple of bottles of whiskey, and even then, people sell it on for money.”
The residents of Surat live by the motto: ‘Khai, pi ne jalsa karo’ (eat, drink and be merry), and Surat is often referred to as the ‘booze capital of Gujarat.’
Alcohol is a poorly kept secret in Surat. The police, according to Tariq, “cannot keep track of people drinking, because of how under developed technology is, so, instead, they take bribes.”
Bribery
Tariq says: “Like I said the situation is really bad. But it’s made worse when the authorities get involved. Basically, if you’re caught with alcohol you’ll be behind bars. But, there’s always a way out of being arrested.
“I must have bribed an officer at least 10 times in my life to get out of, sometimes, ridiculous situations. But 90% of the time, any person who gives a bribe is not in the wrong – the police are bullies.
“There was this one time where I was sitting on the side of the road at night waiting for a friend to pick me up. The police showed up and put two or three empty bottles of beer next to me and forced me to say they were mine. I hadn’t touched a drop that day, so it was an attempt to get money out of me. I ended up giving them £40 for nothing.
“If you don’t agree to a bribe, they’ll either take you straight to cells or use moderate force against you, depending on how desperate they are for money. There’s no punching or kicking, but just slapping you around like a bully and there’s nothing you can do.”
Tariq explained that he, along with thousands of other residents of Surat, always feel victimised whenever they are either out at night, celebrating a friend’s birthday or just relaxing with friends.
He says: “Police love to crash parties with breathalysers and handcuffs and it’s just an excuse to go round asking for cash. If you’re smart and cocky with them, they’ll slap you around like you’re nothing and demand more.”
Home brewing
In 2009, 143 people died after consuming toxic alcohol in the state of Bengal. The death toll was due to individuals “brewing” their own alcohol and selling it on.
“Poverty is a real issue in my city, so people look for ways to make money by producing their own alcohol, which is literally suicide.”
Since then, laws have been passed in some Indian states that impose a death penalty to those caught producing or selling homemade alcohol that causes death or serious injury to another.
Safe haven
Tariq, now studying in the UK explains that he feels more relaxed and protected when he’s out with friends. Although he misses his home city, “it feels great to go out, have fun, like every young man and woman should be allowed to do, without being mugged by the people who are supposed to protect you.”
Shonu Duney, a current resident of Surat and admin of the Facebook page ‘Surat’s Hidden Corruption’ says: “The police don’t take anything seriously. They’re always looking for a quick way to make money.”
An eye-witness account from Shonu
Shonu created the Facebook page not to try to raise awareness on a global scale, but because she felt she had no one else to tell.
“It’s awful. No one will listen so hopefully by looking at my page people may realise just how unjust the police are here and help do something about it. People have complained, but nothing ever happens.
“You see them trying to frighten the injured, waste time and blackmail you in to handing over as much money as you have.”
Shonu also explained a time where she was taking in to police custody for not agreeing to a bribe. She says: “I was dropping a friend home late at night in my car, the police turned up and asked to see my licence.
“They didn’t give it back until I agreed to pay them 1500 INR (£15). I refused, so I was taken to the station where I was pushed by an officer, causing me to cut my hand.
Shonu took to Facebook after the bribery incident
“They said, ‘pay up or you’ll be locked up’. So I gave them the 1500 INR and they let me go. I was outraged.
“If I could leave India, I would.”
*For security reasons, Tariq Khan is a fictional name.
The Daily Male 