Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD/MS)

Udupi, Apr 29: “Beer supply is not in accordance with the demand in Karnataka this summer. Mercury is soaring in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. There is great demand for beer. We do not know why companies are not supplying. We have put our request across to the excise department, KSBCL and depots. But no one is supplying,” said Govind Raj, chief secretary of Karnataka state liquor sellers’ federation.

Govind further said, “During monsoon if 10 boxes of beer gets sold, during summer it will be 30 boxes. Supply should be in line with the demand. But now the supply has completely stopped. The beers which are in great demand are not available. They are supplied once a week.

“This issue has been prevailing for a month. If this situation continues, bar owners will ask permission to sell toddy. The government should not create such a situation. The producers and government departments should ensure proper supply of beer.

“Our consumers get angry and ask us to close the wine shop and bars if we are unable to provide them beer. We give more than Rs 30,000 crore income to the government every year. But we have to get scolded by our consumers,” he said.