“There was a time when country-made liquor was considered safe and the bhatthis (breweries) were supplying quality liquor. But realising the profits involved in the urban areas, a parallel market was created in the cities as well. The city bootlegger buys the consignment from his rural counterpart and then dilutes it in bulk by adding spurious substances including disposed medicines and whatever rubbish which can give kick,” said a bootlegger, on condition of anonymity, who has been sent to prison several times in Vadodara city.

In south Gujarat, the illicit liquor business in the villagers is a small-scale industry. The salty coastline makes agriculture difficult and with no local employment, liquor brewing is the easiest way to

earn money.

Raja Patel, ex-sarpanch and a resident of Bhimpore village in Surat’s coastal area, admits, “Children are taught how to brew liquor as it is a simple process, carried out on the banks of rivers away from village so that police cannot find them. It is then supplied on the highway villages.”

The manufacturing of illicit liquor is well-developed in the villages situated on the coastal areas in south Gujarat. Many youths and women in these villages are addicted to the consumption of these liquors. So much so that in some south Gujarat villages, newer brands are first tried on stray dogs and cats to check the potency.

The poisonous potion

Recipe: Decomposed jaggery, salt cubes (called navsagar), alum, yeast and black pepper are mixed with water in clay or plastic containers. The mixture is allowed to ferment for one to two days in a cool place before boiling it in an airtight container. After cooling, the steam is collected in liquid form in small bottles through a nozzle. Bootleggers often flavour this hooch with cardamom, aniseed, cumin seeds and leaves of mahuda trees.

... contd.