The slowdown in production and increase in demand has created a situation wherein the state is unable to keep up with the demand of the brew.
The excise department of Rajasthan is all set to sell diluted beer this summer. In a bid to match the escalated demand for beer in summer, Rajasthan excise department has given nod for dilution of strong beer into light by adding water. The department has issued a notification to this effect. The slowdown in production and increase in demand has created a situation wherein the state is unable to keep up with the demand of the brew.
As per the notification, it has granted permission for “Conversion of high gravity beer to low gravity beer by addition of demineralized water”. This has been done by amending the rule 40 of the excise policy. The move has been met with surprise and disbelief within the department and the industry.
While the department cannot understand the rationale behind the move, the reasons being cited include low production and increased demand for beer in summer. While one would think that in case of shortage, beer would be imported from other states. But high import taxes on liquor is a deterrent to procuring beer from other states.“It is a quixotic idea and an ill-planned one,” said a source within the excise department. “There is a shortage of stock and as the beer has a shelf life, it cannot be stocked in advance. We are waiting and watching whether breweries accept this offer,” the source added.
Meanwhile, people associated with the industry say that the process of making low gravity beer does not involve adding water to the high gravity beer after the brew is prepared.
Water is added while preparing and the density obtained is after brewing not through dilution. What one would get after dilution is not beer. According to Excise Commissioner, Praveen Gupta, “We had taken the advice of a technical team. This is followed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to speed up the beer making process. This increases the speed of production. It is a technical process wherein water is added at specified technicalities in the concentrated malt. Our committee had studied it for other states. We also studied their notifications and then a technical team followed it up. The decision was taken after that.” “We will check the samples for quality before releasing it in the market,” added Gupta.
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