Empty shelves marked the end of the era of private liquor shops in Bihar on Thursday with heavy discounts to clear the leftover stocks.

While a large number of shops had pulled down their shutters by Wednesday, others were seen offering heavy discounts to clear off the stocks on Thursday. Most country-made liquor shops were also seen closed on Thursday.

A 750ml bottle of Royal Stag whisky, which is normally sold at Rs 670 was being sold at Rs 500 at one of the shops at Kankerbagh on Thursday. Similarly, a nip of McDowell’s Number 1 rum, which is normally sold at Rs 90 was being sold at Rs 70 or Rs 80 at most shops. Many private retailers had even put up boards in front of their shops displaying the discounted rates.

According to sources, there are 5,446 registered private liquor stores in Bihar, of which 2,471 shops trade in country-made liquor, while the rest deal in Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and beer. However, manufacture, distribution and sale of country-made liquor would remain prohibited from Friday (April 1). Besides, sale of liquor would be permitted only in urban areas, including those under the jurisdiction of municipal corporations and municipalities from Friday.
Retailers were offering bumper discounts in a mad rush to clear off the remaining stock despite the option of selling it back to the Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited (BSBCL). BSBCL is the sole wholesale supplier of liquor in the state.

“Most retailers wanted to clear as much stock as possible as the process of selling back the stock to BSBCL is quite cumbersome,” said Nawal Kishore Singh, the president of Patna District Foreign Liquor Retailers’ Association, who closed down his two liquor shops on Monday itself.

Deliberating on the issues in selling back the liquor to BSBCL, Nawal said: “The liquor which is returned from the market is first chemically tested. If the test report states that it is fit for human consumption then only it is taken back by BSBCL. However, this process takes a long time and BSBCL does not have the required resources for it as well.”
Tipplers obviously, were busy stocking up their favourite liquor bottles at discounted prices. “I purchased three bottles of whisky from a shop at Exhibition Road as it was being sold at a discount of Rs 150 on each bottle. I wanted to buy sufficient liquor which could last at least for a week as I am not sure about how liquor shops of BSBCL would open tomorrow,” said an employee of a private firm on Fraser Road.

Under the prohibition norms, all private liquor shops have to be closed by 10pm on Thursday and sale of liquor would be done through 650 shops to be run by BSBCL from Friday. Even a day before the scheduled opening of the shops, many shops lacked wooden frames, others lacked store staples such as counters and refrigerators. Many shops had not been granted liquor licences by the excise department even by 4pm on Thursday.

BSBCL-run shops would run from 10am to 10pm, similar to private liquor shops. Sources claimed that the seals on all liquor bottles except beer would be broken at the counter itself at the time of sale.

There are 424 private liquor shops in Patna district, whereas 121 shops are targeted to be run by the BSBCL from Friday, including 90, in the Patna Municipal Corporation area. The list containing locations of all 121 shops was released on Tuesday.

Drink details

Piyush Kumar Tripathi speaks to Mithilesh Mishra, managing director of Bihar State Beverage Corporation Limited, on the new system of liquor sale that comes into effect from Friday.
 
♦ How many BSBCL-run shop would start functioning from April 1? 

To begin with, 300 shops would be made operational but within a few days the remaining 350 shops would start functioning. People, however, should bear with us on the opening day, that is April 1, as the 300 shops that would become functional on this day may take some time to check their stocks. The actual sale of liquor is likely to ommence from the evening.

♦ Have the liquor licences been procured for the shops?

It is in the process and it would be issued by tomorrow (Friday).

♦ What would be the timing of the shops?

As of now, our shops would function from 10am to 10pm.

♦ Does one need ID proof to buy liquor?

No such instruction from the state government. But liquor would not be sold to persons below 18 years of age.

♦ Is there any restriction on quantity of liquor one can purchase on a given day?

No specific instructions from the government has come on this front as yet.

♦ How can one locate a BSBCL-run shop?

We have provided the detailed list on our website and we are also in the process of Google-tagging the shops.

♦ Will there any CCTV surveillance of liquor shops for the monitoring process?

Yes. All shops would be kept under our surveillance on a regular basis using the CCTV feed.

♦ Will the BSBCL-run shops provide foreign made foreign liquor brands?

Yes. We have the stocks and these would be available from the first day of the new system.