Bars fear 85% dip in footfall on dry weekend in Kolkata

KOLKATA: As the city heads to polls on Sunday, a ‘dry’ weekend awaits Kolkata at the end of a scorching week that could see a sharp footfall drop across restaurants and nightclubs. With liquor sales being prohibited from Friday evening till Sunday, weekend revelry and family dining are expected be set aside, triggering an 85% slide in the number of visitors, fear restaurants. Without liquor, food sales could plunge by 70%, according to the Hotel and Restaurants’ Association of Eastern India (HRAEI).
HRAEI executive committee president Sudesh Poddar said, “This is a big blow for us since Friday and Saturday evenings see a footfall surge. Also, this is the time when people prefer to eat in air-conditioned comfort. Moreover, this is the peak beer season and bars sell around 300 litres a day on weekends.” He added that sale of food will be affected without liquor, especially across the central business district. “The office crowd will skip its weekend drinking session, leading to a drop in food sales,” said Poddar, who owns the Song-Hay restaurant in central Kolkata.

Park Street will see a dry weekend after decades, pointed out restaurant owners. “Even though we are a fine dining restaurant and liquor constitutes a small part of our sales, people do order a couple of drinks as they wait for food. Since this is peak summer, beer sales are brisk. A dry weekend will see many skipping a visit,” said Nitin Kothari, owner of Peter Cat and Mocambo on Park Street.
Another Park Street restobar owner said commuting hassles and security concerns will keep many indoors during the coming weekend. “Business will be affected. I wish the polls were held on a weekday. Liquor sales are bound to plunge as tipplers will be drinking at home this weekend,” he said. An average Kolkata bar sells 450 litres of alcohol a day on weekends. This includes 300 litres of beer a day during the summer weekends.
Off-shops, however, may not see a significant sales surge in the lead-up to the dry period due to restrictions imposed by the Election Commission, pointed out trade insiders. “There could be a minor spurt in sales on Thursday. But since stocks are flowing in slowly, a sharp rise in sale volume is ruled out. Also, liquor shops have to regularly send sales figures to the excise department during the election period, which dissuades the off-shops from selling more,” said an off-shop owner.
Many, however, will be partying at home this weekend. Private firm executive Raj Mitra had planned an evening out with office colleagues on Friday, but has now decided to have a get-together at home. “We have been stocking beer for a week. An evening out on a dry weekend won’t be fun,” he said.