A Meeting of the National Core Group on Alcohol Policy was convened by IAPA on July 30, 2007 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi to discuss ‘Recommendations for an Alcohol Control Policy for India’. Dr. S. Arul Rhaj (Chairman, IAPA) presided. Mr. A. C. Kher IAS (Leading Lawyer & Former Excise Commissioner) presented an overview analysis of the Excise Policy situation in India, the Policies followed by the various State Governments in the country and the need to have a uniform National Excise Policy for India.  

This was followed by presentations on the Content, Structure and Format of the Policy Document by experts, which include Dr. Vinayak Prasad (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India),  Dr. P. R. Panchmukhi (Professor Emeritus, Center for Multidisciplinary Development & Research, Dharwad, Karnataka), Mr. Johnson J. Edayaranmula (Director, Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC)-India, Trivandrum, Kerala) and Ms. Monika Arora (Director, HRIDAY, New Delhi).  Mr. Narendra Kumar IAS (Secretary, Department of Industries, Govt. of Delhi) served as the moderator. Dr. Nimesh G. Desai (Superintendent, IHBAS, Delhi) and Dr. Hariharan (Chief Executive, IAPA) led the discussions. It was decided to make a submission before the National Development Council of the Government of India highlighting the “Imperative Need for a Central Law to Prevent the Public Health Harm and Social Consequences caused by Alcohol Use”.