Coronavirus: "How To Make Alcohol At Home" trends on Google amid lockdown
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: April 16, 2020 12:13 PM2020-04-16T12:13:27+5:302020-04-16T12:13:27+5:30
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A strict ban has been enforced on the sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc. under the updated central guidelines that came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3 to check the spread of COVID-19 infection.
Alcohol prices in the grey market have more than quadrupled and online searches for how to make homemade alcohol have soared during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, with bars and liquor stores shut for weeks across most parts of the country.
Many are turning to illegal liquor, say customs and police officials, who have seen a marked increase in seizures of hooch, which has in the past claimed thousands of lives among the poor unable to afford branded booze.
Many are selling liquor illegally, one of the customers paid 700 rupees for a 170 rupees whisky bottle.
Local media have reported at least a dozen cases of suicide due to alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Liquor scarcity has also sparked break-ins at wine shops and fraud, with buyers conned into making online payments for liquor that never arrived.
In Uttar Pradesh, two people died last week after drinking home-brewed liquor, while five others were admitted to hospital in critical condition, police said.
According to Google Trends, online searches for "how to make alcohol at home" peaked in India during the week of March 22-28, the same week Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed the nationwide lockdown.
At least two northeast states have opted to reopen alcohol stores this week to address consumer demand.
The lockdown has now been extended to May 3 as the number of virus cases crossed 11,000 mark.
