Drug Abuse and Alcohol Consumption as a Social Habit in Nepal

Being a multicultural and multi-ethnic country, Nepal is largely seen as an ambivalent society regarding alcohol use. The use of alcohol and drugs affects all strata of society. The alcohol industry is powerful and enjoys a stronghold on the national economy generating one of the highest revenues. Alcohol policy favors the marketing of the product, and alcohol is available everywhere in Nepal and to all age groups without any restriction. The easy access to and availability of alcohol have created an extremely conducive social environment, especially among the young, for people to begin drinking. A previous study in Nepal revealed that about 60 per cent of the Nepalese population have experienced alcohol. Among those who have ever drunk alcohol, 38 per cent were found to be using it regularly (1–5 days in 30 days) and 10 per cent are daily users (20+ days in a month). Our study revealed that men than women drink more (32 per cent female as compared to 67 percent male) any type of beverage.