City of Nawabs consumed 1.25 lakh ltrs of country liquor on Holi

Lucknow, Mar 6 (UNI) Holi revellers in the city of Nawabs consumed a staggering 1.25 lakh litres of country liquor on Holi.

The sale of country liquor a day before Holi was four folds than average daily sale, excise officials said here.

Similarly, people consumed or purchased 60,000 bottles of beer and as many bottles of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL).

Since Holi is observed as a dry day, most of the people had stocked the booze a day before the festival of colours.

The Uttar Pradesh capital has 219 shops which sell country liqour (desi), whereas 100 shops sell beer exclusively. Similarly, 89 shops here sell IMFL.

Lucknow also boasts of 32 model wine shops where people can buy and consume beer, IMFL and scotch whisky.

Excise officials said a total of 90 lakh litre country liquor was sold between April 1, 2006 and January 31, 2007.

On the flip side, Holi revelry turned gloomy for several families following drunken driving causing death of seven people and leaving about 100 others injured in separate incidents in different parts of the city on Sunday.

UNI