Bangalore: Coming Soon - a substitute to arrack
DHNS
Bangalore, oct 22: Tipplers will have one more brand of whisky and rum available to them from November. MySugar is all set to launch MyWhisky and MyRum as a substitute to arrack, the sale of which is banned in the State.
The Mandya-based MySugar, a State government undertaking, has on a trial run, begun distilling whisky and rum by using the neutral spirit. A bottle of 180 ml of both varieties of liquor will cost Rs 38.50.
MyBeer, My Gin too
MySugar Chairman Nagarajappa said, “We want even the labour classes to drink quality alcohol. After the arrack ban, they are not getting good liquor. MySugar will fill the gap from November. We are just waiting for the excise department to sanction the licence. The products will be branded MyWhisky and MyRum. MyBeer and MyGin are also going to hit the market soon.”
Asked whether the ‘My-brand’ liquor would be able to compete with other well established brands in the market, the chairman replied in the positive. “Quality-wise and price-wise, we will be on par with the best products in the market. Liquor-tasters have given good responses about our liquor,” he added.
He also said that at present, the factory has the capacity to manufacture 10,000 to 15,000 crates, and each crate will contain 9 litres of liquor.
The chairman said that the factory had stopped manufacturing liquor a decade ago. “We have planned to revive the factory by crushing more sugarcane, manufacturing liquor as well as producing power from bagasse. In addition, there will be retrenchment of 300 employees from the present strength of 900. Voluntary Retirement Scheme will also be introduced,” he said.
Nagarajappa said that many liquor-manufacturing companies are eager to buy molasses from MySugar. “Instead of selling it, we have decided to make use of it to earn more money. Private financiers have come forward to lend Rs 250 crore to the factory. The accumulative loss of the factory was Rs 200 crore,” he pointed out.
Platinum Jubilee
The 75-year-old MySugar will celebrate its Platinum jubilee on December 13 this year.
Meanwhile, Minister for Excise Katta Subramanya Naidu said the Government has decided to give permission to MySugar to manufacture liquor.
The product will be marketed through Mysore Sales International Limited. He also claimed that it will be ‘cheap’ liquor.
LICENCE RULES TO CHANGE
Bangalore, DHNS: The State Government has decided to change the existing rules to issue licence to sell liquor in the State from the coming financial year, Excise Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, he said licences to open liquor shops (CL2) and bars and restaurants (CL9) will be issued either through auction, or by calling of tenders. The draft of the new rules is being prepared by the officials, he added.
The Minister, however, said the Government will not issue fresh CL2 and CL9 licenses this year. Plans are also on to re-locate liquor shops based on population. Presently, liquor shops are concentrated in some areas, especially cities and towns, while there are no liquor shops in many rural areas, he added.
Naidu said the department is shifting liquor shops that are located near places of worship and schools and colleges.
The department has collected a sum of Rs 2,709 crore in revenue (between April and September) against the annual target of Rs 5,626 crore.