Scramble for liquor as UT vends offer heavy discounts on various brands
While many would wait for the season-end sale to purchase clothes or household materials, wine lovers await March to grab their stock of liquor at discounted rates. Vends in the city are offering heavy discounts as the annual allotment of unit will come to an end on March 31.
Posters offering ‘heavy discounts’ put up right at the entrances to the vends are catching the attention of one and all. Happy faces coming out with a carton of their favourite liquor and long queues of vehicles parked outside taverns prove the boozers are having a gala time. “My usual brand costs me from Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,800, but I am getting the same for Rs 1,450. I bought four bottles and another three for my friend who lives in Himachal Pradesh. If clothes, groceries and other items are available at discounted rates, there’s no harm in purchasing a bottle of liquor at a low rate,” said Rakesh, a resident of Sector 23.
“The regular drinkers are buying cartons of their favourite brands, while those who drink occasionally are going for a few bottles. We have no other option but to sell the stock at discounted rates as we have to surrender our stock by March 31,” said Roshan, a liquor vend owner.
“I have been into this business for years now, but have never seen such heavy discounts. The administration has changed the policy and in the coming months, the liquor is likely to get dearer at shops as well as restaurants,” said R Uppal, another businessman.
“I have seen on the social media some liquor shops making one-plus-one offer. There’s nothing of that sought in Chandigarh. However, whatever discounts we are getting is better than paying the full price,” said Amrinder, a youngster
A new ‘group’ in business
People in the liquor business claim that the arrival of new groups from other states has made the local business owners to release their stock and make a quick buck. Recently, the Chandigarh Wine Contractors Association had written to the Chief Secretary for scrutinising source of funds before granting excise licences to prevent cartelisation. The letter was written before the recent allocation of vends. “We urge the Chandigarh Administration to prevent the violation of the Chandigarh Excise Policy 2025-26 by these individuals, who have a history of repeat offences under excise laws in Punjab and other states. Notably, they have been under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which conducted raids on them last year,” alleged the association members.
“There is strong evidence that a few connected individuals and companies are attempting to monopolise the market, which violates both the excise policy and the Competition Act of India. The Chandigarh Excise Policy 2025-26 strictly prohibits cartelisation to ensure fair competition and transparency in liquor licensing,” the letter further claimed.
“Nearly 80 to 90 owners will now sit idle, as the arrival of a new group will hold a monopoly in the market. The heavy discounts are nothing but an effort to clear the stock, otherwise it will be a clear loss to us” claimed a vendor.
