High Sales Keep Liquor Sellers On A High

Liquor shops are doing roaring business in the capital city, Kathmandu, a study by The Himalayan Times has revealed. Shopkeepers are experiencing a huge surge of customers - over 30 per cent more than six months ago. “Business is bumper,” beamed Birodh Tripathi of Hamro Wine Shop at Anamnagar, who opened the liquor shop after selling off a general store last year. “I am satisfied with this business,” he said. Liquor is sold for cash and there is no danger of going bankrupt, he added.

Mostly middle-aged Kathmanduites — between 35 to 50 years — are the regular customers of the liquor shops. “Our customers are middle-aged working people,” said Navin Lama, a salesman at Variety Wine Store, New Baneshwor. Youths hardly come to buy liquor here, he added. Royal Stag is the most popular brand among Kathmanduites and its sales remains at a constant high throughout the year.

“Whisky ranging between Rs 700-1200 is the hot cake here,” said Tripathi. Other popular liquors are gin and vodka whereas consumption of rum and brandy is dropping due to the summer heat.

Meanwhile, consumption of beer has increased by 30 per cent. “We have high demand for beer now,” said Lama. Beer is popular among youth — aged between 21 to 30 years — but they rarely visit liquor shops

Sales show that beer consumption is growing, he added.

Women who are employed are also frequent visitors to wine shops. Wine is becoming popular among girls and working women. “It is emerging as a culture here,” said Arjun Bhandari of Ray Global Trading, which sells Australian wines. According to Bhandari, wine that tastes sweet is more popular in the Nepali market than the tarttasting ones.

The total liquor market of Nepal was nearly Rs 6.5 billion in 2008 and growing by 18-20 per cent annually, a UB Group study said. Kathmanduites consume around 9,100 litres of liquor — from imported Scotch to local brands and beer — worth Rs 2.34 million everyday. If homemade liquor is counted, the consumption volume will reach almost 11,000 litres. Liquor store owners of Kathmandu seem reluctant to project their profit and income. Business is profitable and there’s no fear of loss, a shopkeeper at Kantipath said.

“Sorry, but I can’t reveal the profit and Income,” he said. Shopkeepers at Dillibazar, Old Baneshwor, New Baneshwor, Tripureshwor and Anamnagar echoed the same sentiment.