Expressing concern over the promotion of two medicinal concoctions as a homeopathic alternative to alcohol in Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district, a Parish priest and another person, who claimed to be a human rights activist, have moved the Madras High Court seeking a ban on the concoctions.
The petitioners submitted that two products ‘Tone’ and ‘Sativol’ were being prescribed as tonic by some homeopaths in Palapallam and Colachel, both backward regions in the district. These products contained alcohol and were sold as alternatives to liquor, petitioner said adding that many people were addicted to these ‘tonics’. Earlier, the Government had banned the sale of a similar ayurvedic preparation ‘Aristam’ which was widely consumed in Kanyakumari. Now, ‘Tone’ and ‘Sativol’ were being sold at a cheaper rate to those who can’t afford Indian Made Foreign Liquor.
Claiming that 13 persons had died due to addiction to the two concoctions, the petitioners said at least 1,000 to 4,000 bottles of the same were being sold daily in Colachel.
Though they had represented to the district authorities to ban the two products, no response has been received.
Hence, they prayed the court to direct the Government to ban the sale of the two products which were being sold in the guise of homeopathic medicine.