‘18% of men in Tamil Nadu are addicted to booze’

Chennai: Founder and CEO of Zoho corporation Sridhar Vembu expressed concern over the rise in alcohol and drug addiction among students in Tamil Nadu. Sridhar Vembu said several school students too were getting addicted to alcohol. “It is worrying to know that 18% of men are addicted to liquor in Tamil Nadu. Now the habit has started among school students,” he said, speaking at the inauguration function of ‘ABVP Sangamam’ a programme conducted to celebrate the 75th year of the foundation of ABVP, in Vels university in Chennai. Ishari K Ganesh, founder and chancellor of Vels university was also present.“Poor families are the worst affected. Many families have lost their breadwinners because of this,” he said, adding that drug abuse has also increased. “Narcotics have joined liquor. They are easily available to school and college students. It is available in every village,” he said.Vembu said poverty cannot be eradicated unless alcohol addiction was eliminated. “A student movement to eradicate liquor and drugs is the need of the hour,” he said, urging students to get involved in sports, yoga and music to divert themselves from liquor and drug.
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