The lockdown declared to prevent the spread of Covid 19 in India created unforeseen problems, including severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms and the need to manage them. The state of Kerala in India saw suicide deaths by six affected individuals, prompting the state government to instruct government doctors to prescribe alcohol to addicts. The local medical association approached the courts against this. These events raise interesting ethical issues discussed here. Keywords: alcohol withdrawal, prescribing alcohol, Covid 19, ethics of alcohol prescription.