Crackdown Intensifies on Spurious Toddy in Telangana

Quick Summary

• Incident Details: 28 individuals fell ill after allegedly consuming adulterated toddy in Kukatpally, Hyderabad; one critically ill.
• Data Insights: Telangana has reported 39,176 toddy-related incidents from 2014 to June 2025; 13,338 people fell ill during this period.
• Trends and Enforcement: Cases peaked at 11,257 in 2015 but declined sharply until rising again in recent years (4,832 cases reported in 2023).
• Seizures:

– Over the past decade: ~47 lakh litres of spurious toddy and ~15,500 kgs harmful drugs seized.
– recent data (2024): Seized substances include chloral hydrate (1,529 kg), alprazolam (~29 kg), diazepam (~1.52 kg).- Till June 2025: Chloral hydrate (437 kg), alprazolam (~9kg), diazepam (17g) recovered.

• Key Measures:

– Excise department conducted sampling on over 62,865 samples and shut down ~12,175 illegal toddy shops as 2014.
– Strict action under NDPS Act for banned substances identified during testing; non-NDPS adulterants booked under separate laws.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the recurring issue of illicit liquor adulteration highlights a serious public health concern within Telangana. Despite ample regulatory efforts such as widespread testing and closures of illegal outlets over a decade-long period, rising numbers post-2021 suggest systemic gaps or evolving methods by offenders.The increase underscores the need for better enforcement practices that adapt to these innovative techniques of spiking liquor.With major cases like those recently uncovered in Kukatpally and Banswada sparking stricter inspections statewide, the focus reiterates accountability at both retail levels and upstream supply chains-ensuring not only consumer safety but also preventing public harm caused by narcotic-like substances mixed into local brews. Continued vigilance is critical as authorities balance license regulation with active deterrence against illicit brewing operations across urban centers like Hyderabad.

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