Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5)
Genre: Non-Fiction, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, Sri Lankan Studies

Book Review :
Dr. Ranil Abeyasinghe's ''Illicit Alcohol: Drinking Culture in Colombo'' is a rare and vital piece of sociological scholarship that takes readers deep into a world most know only through headlines and statistics. Abandoning the detached methodology of surveys, Abeyasinghe embeds himself in the Thotalanga community, earning the trust of kasippu brewers and drinkers to deliver a rich, empathetic, and unflinching portrait. The book's strength lies in its narrative power; it reads almost like investigative journalism, filled with vivid scenes and personal stories that illuminate the economic desperation, social bonds, and grim realities of illicit alcohol dependence. Abeyasinghe does not sensationalize or moralize but presents a clear-eyed analysis of why this practice thrives, exposing the failures of policy and the resilience of informal economies. While firmly academic in its observational rigor, the writing is accessible and often gripping. This book is essential for anyone interested in urban anthropology, public health in the Global South, or the complex social fabric of contemporary Sri Lanka. It gives a human face to a pervasive problem, making it impossible to ignore the lived experience behind the term ''illicit alcohol.''