Gov't ropes in media in alcohol war

The directive orders the state electronic and print media to depict alcohol as socially unacceptable and destructive to society.

Reliable sources say the anti-alcohol directive was issued this week. Government attempts to introduce a punitive 70 percent levy on the sale of alcohol to control excessive drinking has been hobbled after a strong resistance from brewers and other stakeholders in the industry. Even after the levy was reduced to 30 percent, the government found no respite after a court stopped the introduction of the tax pending the outcome of a case filed by stakeholders.