BENGALURU: Beer lovers in the city seem to be finding it difficult to lay their hands on their favourite brand of the bubbly. At many outlets, empty refrigerators greet customers as Bengaluru is witnessing short supply of beer.
Various outlets located in the city have blamed the shortage on the state government’s push for the sale of Indian Made Liquor (IML). They allege that IML sale is being promoted as it generates more revenue than beer for the state exchequer as resources have dwindled due to the recent farm loan waiver.
Kevin Menezes, a resident of Indiranagar, said that beer was hard to come by in MRP outlets. “Most of the beer brands were unavailable for the last 8-10 days. When we ask the storekeepers about it, they say they are not getting beer stocks from the liquor depot,” he said.
On Saturday, he said, liquor vendors were insistent that they wouldn’t sell only beer. “They were willing to sell only if some IML was purchased along with it,” he added.
However, government officials have dismissed the claim saying that the shortage could have been due to the extended weekend, adding that things will return to normal soon.
Speaking to The New Sunday Express, an office-bearer of State Wine Merchants’ Association, who did not wish to be quoted, said that the excise depots were not providing the required quantity of beer to stores and bars. “Beer is being supplied based on the quantity of IML purchased by any MRP store. This is because IML generates more tax revenue than beer,” he said.
He alleged that state government was making such an adjustment in sale of liquor to generate more revenue.
“The shortage is being seen across the state. However, since highest sales of beer is in Bengaluru, the shortage is being felt by consumers,” he added.
According to Sundar Babu, an employee of Jai Maruthi Spirits, the shortage started about ten days ago. “Prior to that, we used to get a steady supply of beer, which is probably the most sold product. Since then, we have not been able to get the required quantities of beer. Even the brands of beer we receive are not popular among our customers, thereby affecting sales,” he said.
An employee of Blue Land Wine Stores in the city, who did not wish to be quoted, said the shortage was apparent in places like Indiranagar and Koramangala.
“None of the popular brands are in regular supply. Therefore, we are forced to stock up with costlier beer brands,” he said.
When contacted, L N Mohan Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Excise, Bengaluru, said there is no shortage of beer in the city. “Maybe there was a slight shortage due to holidays associated with the festival recently,” he said. To a question on the state trying to push the sale of IML for more revenue, he dismissed any such talk.
The issue is expected to be raised at the upcoming meeting of vendors and Excise department scheduled on October 23. “We will raise the concerns with the government during the meeting, urging it to solve the issue at the earliest,” the office-bearer of the State Association added.