Not much rush at liquor shops on last day of fiscal year

As compared to previous years, not much rush of boozers was witnessed outside liquor/wine shops here in the city. As is customary, masses flock around liquor shops to purchase large amounts of booze in March due to hefty discounts by vendors to clear their stocks, but this time, the rush was absent.

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Talking to The Tribune, a manager for a leading liquor contractors having multiple shops in Ludhiana, wishing not to be quoted, said that this time, the government had acted smart and not given them a lot of stocks for March. “The stocks came, but in lesser quantity as compared to previous years. The reason for this was that the government wants to generate more revenue next year so this time, it sent less stocks to the vendors. We can say that the sales in the closing year have dropped to 50-60 per cent,” said the manager.

Amrit, who works at a liquor vend in Civil Lines, said that every year when the stocks were sent in huge quantities, they were cleared immediately due to heavy discounts. “Earlier, when stocks were cleared on March 31, we used to witness a lesser number of buyers in April, but since not much stocks were provided this time, the sales would remain normal,” said Amrit. Raj, a domestic helper, said he waits for March 31 to purchase liquor. “They did not give me more than three bottles today,” said Raj.