Hyderabad: Lockdown fears spike liquor sales; hit chicken, meat business

Hyderabad Lockdown: In the corona crisis, non-vegetarian is no more favourite dish but liquor is the most favourite drink. People preferred liquor over non-vegetarian as alcohol sales have gone up suddenly and chicken and mutton sales dipped in July first week.

After the government hinted the lockdown will be imposed in July first week, tipplers started buying liquor in huge quantity and stockpiled in their homes in advance . Subsequently, non-veg food sales have gone down as people spent most of their earning in the first week of month on liquor anticipating closure of wine shops anytime.

On an average, Rs 100 crore valued liquor was sold out per day from June last week to till today. Excise officials said that the wine shop dealers are also lifting huge liquor stocks from the beverage depots after the sudden increase in the liquor sales . The liquor sales were on dull note till recently even as the shops were opened in June first week during the lockdown period.

As people favoured to buy liquor with the available money, the sale of chicken and mutton fell drastically. On Sunday, non vegetarian outlets registered nearly 40 per cent less in chicken sales in Hyderabad.

Chicken prices have already gone down below Rs 200 and meat was being sold at Rs 700 per kg but people prefer to buy liquor. The traders are confident that chicken sales will go up in next week as the alcoholics are already full of liquor stocks in their homes.