Six dry days in October results in a 25 per cent drop in daaru sales

With Puneites already having gone through six dry days and the seventh dry day (for Ekadashi) falling this Thursday, liquor shop owners are in a foul mood. The high number of dry days this month has caused liquor sales to drop by 20 to 25 per cent as compared to last October, say liquor shop owners.

Loss for all
"The dry days have affected my business by around 20 per cent. And as it is something unavoidable, we can't even complain to anyone," says Sachin Motwani, a dealer at Dehu Road. Added Pankaj Soneja, another liquor shop owner, "The reasons behind the losses are immaterial. The fact remains that my sales have dropped by more than 25 per cent." Although, the business had just begun to pick up after a long dry spell, shop owners fear that the forced closure for Ekadashi will again affect the flow.

Elections no help
Politicians usually buy alcohol in advance to keep their supporters happy in the run up to counting day.

Explained Vijay Kutty, president, Pune District Wine Traders Association,u00a0 "The supporters of political parties do not constitute more than five per cent of the city's population. So whatever alcohol was bought, it is only for them. The rest of the 95 per cent were unable to buy because shops were closed." He added, "Shops at certain areas with more political activities may have done a decent job, but those on the outskirts of the city are highly affected."