By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, March 31, 2020: The Catholic Church in Kerala and the Indian Medical Association have criticized the southern Indian state government’s decision to provide liquor to addicts during the nationwide lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic.

“The government’s unethical move will have far reaching consequences for society,” Bishop of Yoohanon Mar Theodosius of Muvattupuzha, chairperson of the Temperance Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, told Matters India over phone on March 31.

The prelate also said the Church cannot accept the practice of doctors prescribing alcoholic as medicine.

The temperance commission wants the government to view the lockdown as an opportunity to wean people away from liquor addiction. Instead, it plans to open bars and liquor outlets to supply alcohol on production of doctor’s prescription, the commission regrets in a press release.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ordered the state’s excise department to provide liquor to those with valid prescription from a doctor. The decision was taken after reports of suicide by those suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

The state closed all bars and liquor outlets under the 21-day lockdown starting March 25.

Kerala took the decision as people flocked around liquor outlets ignoring government’s advice to stay indoors as a precautionary measure against the deadly virus.

Bishop Theodosius, however, welcomed the chief minister clarification later that the doctor’s prescription alone was not sufficient to get liquor.

The government decision was prompted by at least 10 cases of suicide by addicts because of acute withdrawal symptoms after liquor became unavailable post-lockdown.

But the bishop asserts liquor is not a medicine. “We cannot correct a wrong with another wrong,” he adds.

According to him, the Church has offered its health facilities to the government to tackle the pandemic.

The Church commission urges the government to treat the addicts through counseling and medicines at its de-addiction centers.

“The government should withdraw its decision which is not proper for a civilized society,” the statement says.

The Indian Medical Association too wants the government to provide scientific treatment to those with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. “It can be treated at home or in hospitals with medicines. It is not scientifically acceptable to offer alcohol to such people instead,” the association told ANI news agency.

Meanwhile the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association objected to the government order.

Its president Joseph Chacko said on March 31 that doctors would abstain from duty if they are proceeded against for refusal to prescribe liquor to addicts. “They will observe protest day on Wednesday (March 31) by wearing black badges while on duty,” he added.

The first corona positive case in India was detected in Kerala on January 29 from a student who had returned from Wuhan in China, the epicenter of the coronavirus, and her two associates. They were successfully treated and sent home.

The disease, however, returned to the state from a three-member family who came from Italy and failed to follow the COVID-19 protocol.

With two deaths and 234 positive cases, Kerala has become the second worst hit state in India after Maharashtra where ten people have died and 248 tested positive.

So far, 1440 persons have been tested positive in India. Among them 48 have died and 140 recovered.