NEW DELHI: According to Fresh statistics India is one of the largest producers of alcohol in the world and there has been a steady increase in its production over the last 15 years.

As per the report India is a dominant producer of alcohol in the South-East Asian region with 65 per cent of the total share and contributes to around seven per cent of the total alcohol beverage imports into the region.

According to figures in the newly-compiled 'Alcohol Atlas of India', there has been a steady increase in the production of alcohol in the country, with the production doubling from 887.2 million litres in 1992-93 to 1,654 million litres in 1999-2000 and was expected to treble to 2300 million litres by 2007-08.

The studies done across the country reveals that the prevalence of alcohol use is still low in India.

However, though the overall consumption is low, patterns of alcohol consumption vary throughout the country. Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Northeastern states have much higher proportion of alcohol consumption in the country.