The prices of essential commodities may be burning a hole in your pocket due to ever-rising inflation, but prices of liquor are either unmoved or have decreased.
The illicit liquor trade in Ahmedabad is witnessing an uncanny trend this Diwali. The prices of essential commodities may be burning a hole in your pocket due to ever-rising inflation, but liquor is something to cheer for! The trend this year in the illicit trade reveals that prices of liquor are either unmoved or have decreased.
"We are having a dull season this year if you compare it to last year's. Normally, a week before Diwali demand goes up as do prices. But this year the trend has either reversed or remained stagnant. Many bootleggers have already stocked up liquor considering the Diwali rush but buyers are not turning up," said a bootlegger from the eastern part of the city.
Normally, prices of all essential commodities go up including prohibited liquor as the demand increases. During the festive season bootleggers too take advantage and charge high rates, but not this year.
"The reason behind this is the growing number of bootleggers who have joined the illicit trade in recent years including students (part-time). Due to this, competition amongst the bootleggers has increased. To maintain a list of clientele the bootleggers have to compromise on their usual charges," said another bootlegger who also runs an open liquor stand in the eastern part of the city.
However, according to various other bootleggers across the city there is no dearth of liquor at all. They said that a couple of months earlier there was heavy police pressure on them and many open liquor stands in the eastern part of city were closed. However, at present the situation is quite 'business friendly'.
The other angle that bootleggers believe to be behind lesser demand this year is the fact that the consumers are going to have a long vacation starting from the day of Diwali (October 26).
According to various bootleggers, after Diwali most of their regular customers will be going out of city to neighbouring states where liquor consumption is not prohibited. This is also one of the reasons why liquor is going to be much cheaper this festive season.
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