Last week, a young person committed suicide in Kerala's Thrissur district because he couldn't get his quota of liquor. Many in the State have been admitted to hospitals after they started showing uncontrollable withdrawal symptoms for want of alcohol, which is not available because of the ongoing lockdown. In Hyderabad, two persons attempted suicide last week and one of them is no more.

With psychiatrists saying that withdrawal symptoms can lead to extreme steps by alcoholics, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a "fixed quota of legal alcohol" would be given to those who come to the Excise Department with a doctor's prescription. This decision has been taken in view of the "social problems" posed by alcoholics' withdrawal symptoms. It is said that many are showing "suicidal tendencies".

The announcement has come as a relief to drunkards. They are hoping that other States, too, will take similar steps in the coming days.