Why do alcohol-containing medicines need prescriptions now?

India has tightened regulations on alcohol-containing medicines to curb their growing misuse for intoxication and addiction. In this ground report, we explain why the Union Health Ministry has brought certain alcohol-based oral medicines, including some cough syrups, under the stricter Schedule H1 category, ending their over-the-counter sale. We investigate how easily such medicines are still available, speak to chemists and medical experts, and examine whether the new rules are being enforced on the ground. The report also clarifies that these medicines are not banned—many legitimately use ethanol as a solvent or preservative—but products with a higher risk of misuse will now require stricter monitoring and prescriptions. Meanwhile, a recent World Health Organisation report highlights a severe global health challenge, projecting a 67 percent increase in the overall cancer burden by 2050. The data reveals that 92 percent of the global population will be affected by the disease in some capacity.