Published: April 19, 2026, 23:14 IST – 1 Minute Read
In a recent installment of The Kashmir Notebook podcast, journalist Gowhar Geelani interviews Naeem Akhtar, a People’s Democratic Party official and ex-cabinet minister, on a longstanding and divisive issue in Kashmir: alcohol, community norms, and governance.
The dialogue explores reasons for the absence of a total alcohol prohibition in the area, despite substantial faith-based resistance. It examines viewpoints on ethical standards, personal liberties, and fiscal gains that influence this persistent discussion. Akhtar outlines the evolution of alcohol in Kashmir, from allusions in mystical practices and the medieval dynasty era to post-1947 parliamentary discussions and the effects of armed conflict during the 1990s.
The exchange further considers how alcohol intake is culturally constrained but remains a point of political contention. Akhtar addresses tourism’s influence, the modest share of alcohol taxes in the local budget, and the recurring mentions of alcohol-free regions like Gujarat in public conversations.
