The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 (2023–24) has revealed that Arunachal Pradesh has the highest proportion of men aged 15 years and above reporting alcohol consumption in the country, at 50.5 per cent. However, this figure has declined from 52.6 per cent, as reported in NFHS-5 (2019–21).
Among women aged 15 years and above, Arunachal Pradesh also tops the chart, with 23.2 per cent reporting alcohol consumption in 2023–24, down from 24.2 per cent in 2019–21.
The survey was released on May 29.
Telangana ranks second among men, with 43.9 per cent reporting alcohol consumption, a marginal increase from 43.4 per cent in the previous assessment.
Sikkim follows, with 42.2 per cent of men admitting to consuming alcohol, up from 39.9 per cent in 2019–21. Among women, Sikkim ranks second in the country, with 19.9 per cent reporting alcohol consumption, compared to 16.2 per cent in the previous survey.
In terms of tobacco consumption of all kinds, Mizoram tops the chart for both men and women, with 73.6 per cent and 61 per cent, respectively, reporting usage.
Himachal tops Northern India in alcohol consumption
In Himachal Pradesh, 30.2 per cent of men reported consuming alcohol in 2023–24, the highest proportion in northern India. However, the figure has declined from 31.9 per cent reported in the previous NFHS assessment.
In Uttarakhand, 27.2 per cent of men reported alcohol consumption, compared to 25.5 per cent in 2019–21.
The neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana reported 22.9 per cent and 17.5 per cent of men consuming alcohol, respectively.
In Chandigarh, 21.6 per cent of men reported alcohol consumption, up from 18.6 per cent in the previous survey.
Alcohol consumption among men was lower in Delhi (16.1 per cent) and Jammu and Kashmir (7.3 per cent). However, in Ladakh, the figure stood at 18.4 per cent.
In Rajasthan, only 10.7 per cent of men reported consuming alcohol, while in Uttar Pradesh, the figure was 18.7 per cent.
Among women in northern India, 1.1 per cent in Chandigarh admitted to consuming alcohol.
Ladakh reported 0.8 per cent of women consuming alcohol, followed by Himachal Pradesh at 0.6 per cent.
The corresponding figures were 0.4 per cent in Delhi; 0.3 per cent each in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab; and 0.2 per cent each in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
“Northeastern states and Telangana have traditionally reported higher alcohol consumption. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, people also brew alcohol at home. This is one reason for the higher proportion of men reporting alcohol consumption. It is quite common to drink in groups during festivals,” explained health economist Prof Aswini Kumar Nanda.
“In Mizoram, tobacco is a part of the culture. People have been smoking it for a very long time,” said Prof Sonu Goel from the Department of Community Medicine and the School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Overweight or obese population
When it comes to overweight or obese men (those with a Body Mass Index of 25 kg/m² or higher), Chandigarh tops the country, with 48.5 per cent of men falling into this category, up significantly from 34.4 per cent in the previous NFHS assessment.
After Chandigarh, the highest proportions of overweight or obese men were reported in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (46.1 per cent) and Puducherry (45.9 per cent). In both regions, the figures have increased since the last survey.
Among women, Puducherry recorded the highest proportion of overweight or obese individuals at 51.3 per cent, up from 46.3 per cent in 2019–21. It was followed by Lakshadweep, where 50.1 per cent of women were overweight or obese, a sharp increase from 33.5 per cent in NFHS-5, and Andhra Pradesh, where the figure rose to 47.9 per cent from 36.3 per cent.
“At the national level as well, more men (27.3 per cent) and women (30.7 per cent) reported being overweight or obese compared to the previous assessment. Most states have recorded an increase. It is largely a lifestyle issue. The greater the affluence, the less physical work people tend to do and the more likely they are to consume junk food,” said Prof Nanda.
*NFHS-6 for 2023-24
