Getting that ‘high’ will cost higher this festive season

Scotch and liquor prices have gone up astronomically at the hotels offering them to tourists and permit holders in Ahmedabad, playing a spoiler in the festive season even as imported beer that is in demand are out of stock across the city. According to a manager of the permit shop at a city hotel, the price of Glenfiddich 18 (18-year-old Single Malt Scotch) that sold at about Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000 about a month ago, is now selling between Rs 25,000 and Rs 28,000 at permit outlets. Prices of whisky have increased across brands from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500, depending on the brand.
“The prices of whisky across all brands have increased by Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 just a month before Diwali. This will definitely affect sales. In fact, the tax on liquor is 65% in Ahmedabad which has already hit tourists and permit holders hard.” “The price of Glenfiddich 12 has increased by Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,400. The problem is the prices have increased over and above the high taxes of 65% on liquor,” the manager at the hotel said.
Tourists travelling to states where there’s no prohibition are aware of the huge price difference in Gujarat when liquor is bought from permit shops. A permit shop manager of another hotel said, “A tourist is aware that the liquor at a hotel in say Rajasthan is much cheaper than that available in Gujarat and feels cheated when he buys liquor from us.” Imported beer out of stock in city A permit shop manager said there’s no stock of foreign beers anywhere in Ahmedabad. He said, “There are many tourists who prefer to have beer such as Hoegaarden and Asahi beers that are imported brands. Their stocks are not available and only local brands are available. This is a mood spoiler as most tourists and even health permit holders ask for such brands over the domestic brands.
Moreover, regular beer sold for Rs 100 in Rajasthan is available for Rs 250 in Ahmedabad.” Bootleggers make a killing ahead of Diwali A bootlegger supplying liquor in Satellite, Vastrapur and Thaltej said, “The price of various brands of liquor have increased from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per bottle this Diwali. Sales have increased by more than 50 per cent ahead of Diwali. Constant police checks have also led to price rise, besides the festive season.” Pricier drinks He said the price of Ballantine’s Scotch and Red Label have increased from Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500, Blender’s from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,200 and Antiquity from Rs 1,800-2,200.