Bhubaneswar: The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) has uncorked a revealing picture of alcohol consumption among Indian men, exposing a distinct "tipsy belt" stretching across parts of eastern and central India.

While Telangana continues to retain its position as the country’s drinking capital, Odisha remains among the top five states where alcohol consumption among men aged 15 years and above is the highest.

Yet, hidden beneath the headline numbers is an intriguing story: Odisha is one of the few high-consumption states that has actually recorded a decline in drinking prevalence over the last five years.

The ‘High’ State

According to NFHS-6, 26.8 per cent of Odisha’s men consume alcohol. The figure is significantly higher in rural Odisha (28 per cent) than urban areas (21.2 per cent), underlining the deeply rural character of drinking habits in the state.

Only three states report higher overall consumption rates than Odisha. Telangana tops the chart with a staggering 43.9 per cent male alcohol consumption rate, followed by Chhattisgarh at 38.3 per cent and Jharkhand at 36.6 per cent. Kerala occupies the fifth spot at 22.7 per cent.

The geography of drinking in India is striking. The highest-consuming states form a contiguous belt stretching from Telangana through Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Experts have long associated the trend with tribal populations, traditional brewing practices and greater social acceptance of alcohol in many rural communities.

However, Odisha’s latest numbers point to a subtle but important behavioural shift.

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 28.7 per cent of Odisha’s men reported consuming alcohol. The latest survey places that figure at 26.8 per cent, marking a decline of nearly two percentage points. Among the major drinking states, Odisha is one of the few to register a reduction.

The contrast becomes sharper when compared with its peers.

High Guzzlers

Telangana’s consumption rate has climbed from 43.4 per cent to 43.9 per cent. Chhattisgarh has witnessed a sharper jump from 34.7 per cent to 38.3 per cent. Jharkhand has also moved upward from 34.9 per cent to 36.6 per cent. Kerala, often viewed as a state with strong health indicators, has seen alcohol consumption rise from 19.9 per cent to 22.7 per cent.

The survey also reveals that alcohol consumption is expanding in states not traditionally associated with high drinking rates. Haryana has recorded a rise from 14 per cent in 2019 to 17.5 per cent now, while Madhya Pradesh has increased from 17 per cent to 18.5 per cent.

The Final Word

The larger takeaway from NFHS-6 is that India’s alcohol story is becoming increasingly regional. While several states are witnessing a growing drinking culture, Odisha appears to be moving cautiously in the opposite direction.

The state still remains firmly among India’s high-consumption zones, and more than one in four men continue to consume alcohol.

But the decline suggests that awareness campaigns, changing social attitudes, migration patterns, or economic factors may be beginning to alter behaviour on the ground.

For Odisha, therefore, the NFHS-6 findings deliver a mixed verdict: the state remains in India’s top drinking league, but for the first time in years, the trend line is bending downward rather than upward.