Kolkata guzzled more beer over other liquors in past 2 weeks

KOLKATA: Beer sales in city's party points surged in past two weeks after the mercury soared past the 40-degree mark several times this April.
Though the drop in temperature on Friday brought relief to the city, many outlets decided to increase their requisition of the brew. Some had even run out of the popular varieties.
Beer consumption in the state has more than doubled in 2022-2023 compared to previous year. It also recorded Rs 22,000 crore liquor sales while it was Rs 18,000 crore in 2021-2022. Sales also crossed one crore cases for the first time.
Outlets TOI spoke to said beer comprised almost 95% of the sales over the past two weeks.
"At Phoenix and Deck 88, our guests look for beer more than hard liquor during summer. It's just April and in this scorching heat beer is the drink that cools you down. Demands run high and we have to keep the stock ready," said Amit Kobat, Gegneral manager, The Astor.
"A lot of hard liquor drinkers automatically shift to draught or bottled beer when the temperature soars. Here, the sale of beer increased by almost 25% in the scorching heat," said Roshni Aditya, owner of Baraf Bar.
"Demand for beer goes up every year when the summer season starts. This year the sudden rise in temperature had pushed up the sale of beer which is largely preferred during this season," said Souraj Bhowmick of The Spirits in Sector V.
Many central Kolkata bars were also getting filled up from early evening. "There were guests from early evening. Almost 90% were going for beer," said Sandeep Sehgal of Broadway Hotel.
Last weekend, several liquor vendors ran out of popular varieties of beer by afternoon. "By Sunday evening we were left with varieties which are not popular," said a representative of Ruttonjee Dadabhoy & Son on Ganesh Chandra Avenue.