Reports: Jagan Govt’ Liquor Brought Health Problems?

One of the most detrimental and controversial aspects of the YS Jagan administration was its infamous liquor policy. The quality of liquor supplied through government-run outlets was frequently questioned and allegedly led to several health complications.

Now, the state health department has commissioned a team to study the health effects of liquor consumption during Jagan’s tenure as Chief Minister. The findings of this survey are alarming, clearly indicating a sharp rise in kidney and liver issues between 2019 and 2024.

The report reveals that the number of alcohol-related liver patients rose from 14,026 during 2014–2019 to 29,369 in the 2019–2024 period, effectively doubling during the Jagan administration when compared to the previous TDP government. These figures are based on admissions recorded under the Arogyasri scheme.

The worst-affected age group is between 35 and 44 years. In this bracket, the number of hospital admissions jumped from 4,419 to 9,362 during the same period.

Alcohol-related neurological cases saw a staggering increase from 1,276 to 12,663, nearly a 10-fold rise. Kidney-related cases also climbed from 49,060 to 90,385, again nearly doubling during Jagan’s rule.

The sharp rise in alcohol-related health issues during this five-year period serves as a strong indicator of the adverse effects of the liquor supplied under the Jagan administration’s policy.