Economic meltdown affects illicit liquor trade in Guj

Ahmedabad, Nov 27 (UNI) The Global economic meltdown has not even spared the illicit liquor sale in liquor-prohibited Gujarat.

It was the first time that the financial crisis has adversely affected the bootlegging trade in Gujarat, a leading bootlegger told UNI on condition of anonymity.

He said, ''The recession has reduced demands of country made liquor, as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquors (IMFL) and as a result, we have reduced the prices of both by 40 to 50 per cent in our trade.'' The cost of normal brands of the IMFL have come down from Rs 300 to Rs 180 per bottle, while country made liquor, popularly nicknamed as Potli or Kothli (bag), sold at a steady price of Rs ten since last 15 years, was now being sold at Rs five.

However, the branded beers have maintained their normal price tags, as they are the choice of a particular class of people, the bootlegger said, adding that similarly prices of drugs were not much adversely affected.

The prices of the IMFLs were cut-down owing to recession and the income of customers, particularly those who were mainly dealing in stock markets and reality sectors, as their income has drastically went down.

While the price of Potli has been lowered to facilitate the customers, mainly from labour or lower income classes, were either unemployed or getting works for less number of days, the bootlegger quipped.

UNI MP SR GL PM1524