What Women Drinking Alcohol in India Really Says About Empowerment

Only 1.3% of Indian women aged 15–49 consume alcohol, says the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21).

Sounds low, right? But dig a little deeper, and the story gets interesting.

Let’s travel to Arunachal Pradesh — where a whopping 24.2% of women report drinking alcohol. The highest in India.

Coincidence? Not quite. Arunachal also scores high on the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) — with a solid 22.77.

Then there’s Sikkim, mirroring this trend.

Strong WEI score: 25.84. High female alcohol consumption too.

See the pattern?

Women who are more empowered — are also more likely to make autonomous personal choices, including alcohol consumption.

Now take Karnataka.

A relatively high WEI score of 19.5 — but only 0.3% of women report drinking alcohol.

Why the disconnect?

Because empowerment on paper doesn’t always translate to access or comfort in the real world.

Several factors continue to hinder women’s relationship with alcohol:

🚫 The liquor store experience? Overwhelmingly male and uninviting.

🚫 Reliable home delivery? Still a luxury in most places.

🚫 Social perception? “She drinks? Must be rebellious.” 🙄

As conversations around gender and choice evolve, it’s worth asking not whether women should drink, but whether they feel safe, seen, and supported if they choose to.

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