Published Paper Details:

This sociological study, conducted in 2025, explores the alarming rise of alcohol addiction among youth in the rural communities of Kampli taluk, Ballari district. Traditionally considered an urban problem, alcoholism has now deeply penetrated rural landscapes, specifically affecting young adults aged 18 to 26 years. The primary objective of this research is to identify the specific socio-economic and cultural factors pushing young villagers towards this destructive habit. To understand this crisis, the study adopts a descriptive research design based on primary data collection. A purposive sample of 40 respondents, including youth, parents, senior citizens, and educated individuals, was selected from four specific villages: Arlihalli, Belugoduhal, Ramasagara, and Devasamudra. The theoretical framework of Structural Functionalism is used to explain how the breakdown of traditional joint families has removed strict moral guidance. The major findings reveal that high levels of unemployment and economic frustration are the main socio-economic drivers of this addiction. In addition to poverty, strong negative peer pressure forces many young men to consume alcohol simply to gain social acceptance. The easy and illegal availability of liquor in local village shops acts as a major catalyst, allowing daily consumption without fear. The consequences of this addiction are devastating, leading to severe financial debt and a shocking increase in domestic violence within rural households. At the community level, intoxicated youth are causing a noticeable rise in street fights, public nuisance, and a loss of social harmony. The traditional authority of village elders and local panchayat rules have become completely ineffective in controlling this local liquor supply. To solve this crisis, the study strongly recommends immediate government intervention to strictly ban illegal petty liquor shops. There is also an urgent need to create local employment opportunities and establish free de-addiction centers to rehabilitate the affected youth. Ultimately, the research concludes that protecting the rural youth from alcoholism requires a combined, serious effort from families, local communities, and the government.