Liquor flowing around 4-5 times average monthly consumption in Mumbai metropolitan region

MUMBAI: After a lull during the last two Covid years, this new year season, liquor seems to be flowing around four-five times the average monthly consumption in Mumbai metropolitan region.
Within a period of one month since December 1, around 20 lakh people have bought liquor stock along with the day's individual liquor permit of Rs 2 and Rs 5 each in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts put together.
Otherwise, the same purchases of daily permit along with the liquor stocks are roughly over 4 to 5 lakh every month in the entire metropolitan region, officials pointed out.
A senior official said the number of purchases by individual liquor buyers at the shops or bars had gone down remarkably during the Covid years of 2020 and 2021.
The same number of daily permits issuance was reported to be approximately around 7 lakh in December 2021.
While Rs 2 permit is to be compulsorily bought by one who is buying country liquor stock, that of Rs 5 is meant for those buying the IMFL bottles.
These permits have to be bought by the customers or patrons in the absence of life-time permit that comes at Rs 1000 and the annual permit at Rs 100 each.
These liquor purchases on day's individual permit over a month of December this year, say officials, are mainly made to consume in Christmas and new year parties.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing month so far, the suburban excise administration has arrested 88 people in 92 cases of bootlegging and illicit liquor sale. Similarly, in Thane 247 peopole have been detained in 354 crimes related to illegal liquor sale.
Suburban excise superintendent Snehalata Shrikar said the administration was constantly keeping vigil on unscrupulous elements involved in illegal trade of liquor.
The toll free numbers 8422001133 and 18002339999 have been arranged by the excise administration so that people can lodge complaints in case if they notice any fraud, said a release.