'Party-Christmas-New year' is a far cry for Mizos

Aizawl, Dec 15 (UNI) Though Christmas and New Year are round the corner, yet the Mizos would not be able to drink and make merry to their hearts content.

As the price of liquor in this 'dry' state has gone up four fold, it is out of reach for most of the people in Mizoram. Even the cheapest of all 'Asenchi', a local term for all Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), has shot up.

A bottle of ordinary quality whisky or a brandy that can be had in other parts of the country for around Rs 150 has spiralled to Rs 600 in black-markets here.

Even if someone has the cash to splurge, he has to dodge excise department officials and the ever-vigilant NGOs during their anti-liquor campaign.

The lucky few, who have the right connections with the various armed forces stationed here, usually get cheaper IMFL round the year.

However, during the coming Christmas and New year, Mizos' greatest festive season, the cost shoots up - irrespective of the brands, and sets them back by at least Rs 600.

Dave Chhakchhuak, chief of Zoram News and survey service, who has been conducting a survey on the prices of liquor around the city and the outskirts, told UNI that it will not be difficult to procure IMFL if one is willing to pay above Rs 500.

''You have to take what they offer,'' he said, adding ''the illegal market here would not pamper you for choice''.

More interesingly, sources from the armed forces said Jawans, who get the daily quota of 60 ml liquor, are also doing brisk business now.

''Affordable brands of whisky like Royal Stag are now dearer by almost Rs 400 than elsewhere,'' sources from the Mizoram excise department said.

''But finding a bottle, will in itself, be a hard time,'' they added.

The automatic choice for the people, then is 'funte', a locally brewed rice-intoxicant packed in polythene packets. Half a litre of the hooch costs Rs 100.

''If anyone wants to raise a 'toast in style' this Christmas and New Year with something real smooth, you may as well tap your friends in the armed forces, whom you had long lost touch with,'' Mr Mawia, a regular customer at the city illegal liquor market pointed out.

In a bid to crack whip on Christmas and year-end party hoppers, the excise department sources said with the help of local NGOs the officials had already destroyed several illicit distilleries, besides destroying 900 tins of fermented rice, 5 sets of distillation vessels, 52 kgs of yeast and 642 litres of distilled liquor.

UNI SNR LL VP1314