:hehe:
Liquor prices, sale soar after elections
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
By Salman Aslam
LAHORE
LIQUOR sale and prices have gone up in the provincial metropolis after the general elections.
Sources said the price of liquor had registered almost 20 per cent hike. The price of liquor was attached with demand, greater the demand of a particular brand, more the prices.
Liquor is the only commodity, which has no upper price ceiling, as illegal traders charged as much as they could.
A local bootlegger said considerable sale of liquor was recorded on the last New Year’s Eve but the liquor sale touched all-time high surpassing even the New Year before and especially after the elections.
“It was after months that they (liquor sellers) have managed to jack up its prices, as usually it used to be the other way round,” he added.
“Obviously, the elections were an appropriate occasion for the bootleggers to increase the prices. Moreover, there was no problem in raising price here, as there is no competitor that will offer liquor for a lesser price, as used to happen earlier,” another bootlegger from Mughalpura said.
A large number of political supporters stored up liquor and served it when the election results were announced. A supporter of a PML-Q candidate liquor was served to entertain guests regardless of election result.
Similarly, a PPP supporter said he had purchased genuine liquor, which was used to celebrate victory of their candidate. “We have purchased as many bottles as were available,” he said. He said many bootleggers sold refilled bottles of tainted liquor.
It is learnt that bootleggers sometimes add industrial spirit to a cocktail of ingredients to make liquor. They can be anything from cereals, vegetables, battery acid and pieces of old rubber tires. This mix is then boiled and distilled and sold as country liquor. It kills citizens every year.
The smuggling of liquor from India is also proving quite profitable for them, as they are selling the liquor at almost double the rates here. A half litre bottle of locally distilled liquor was sold for Rs 700 and a one-litre bottle for nearly Rs 1,200 in the City while foreign brands were sold from Rs 2,000 to 3,500.
Alcohol fuels many social evils in the City, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, accidental death and suicide. However, liquor is available in virtually every community because bootlegging is the most profitable business in the City.
When contacted, SSP (Operations) Aftab Ahmad Cheema said the Lahore police had arrested 876 persons on charges of drug business and recovered 1,560 bottles of liquor, two kilograms heroin, 217-kg charas and 7-kg opium during the first month of 2008.
He said, “Usage of liquor is a sin and a disease that is sold in bottles. We have prepared lists of notorious persons involved in pushing drugs and yet another crackdown will be launched after the general polls.”
