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AGRA: Tipplers are having a hard time in Uttar Pradesh. Shortage of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) continues even 20 days after the new excise policy came into effect. To worsen the crisis, the demand of liquor is on surge due to ongoing wedding season. As a result, the state is witnessing around 50% less supply of liquor than its demand and majority of premium liquor brands are out of stock.

A change in the state excise policy has taken most of the current stock off the shelves in bars, model shops and vends across the state. As per the revised liquor policy, holograms on liquor bottles must be replaced with barcodes. According to excise department officials, bottles with holograms have been recalled, which has resulted in the shortage of liquor.

According to a source in the excise department, the supply of liquor is less than 50% of the demand. Majority of the premium brands are out of stock.

Officials said the supply crisis perpetuated by the barcode policy would take a few more days to be resolved. According to them, liquor wholesalers, who form the chain between retailers and manufacturers, need to replenish their stock once the distilleries change the holograms on the bottles with barcodes. The move to shift to the barcode policy was necessitated by the numerous cases of spurious liquor being sold in branded bottles.

Deputy commissioner (excise) Vijay Kumar Mishra told TOI, “The situation of liquor shortage is temporary. Supply will normalise by end of this month. Shifting to a new system takes time. We are working to ensure proper implementation of the new excise policy. All products with holograms have been called back. The department will return this stock with barcode labels after taxing them additional duties on the basis of the latest price list.”

However, retailers fear the temporary vacuum will create a black market.

Excise department data says Agra which saw an average daily consumption of 6,000 cartons of beer until last month, is being supplied just 3,000 cartons presently. Shop owners said they had seen a 50% dip in daily sales.

Customers are at the receiving end too. Mohit Sharma , a resident of Arjun Nagar , said, “I have to arrange liquor for my cousin’s wedding next week. I have visited six outlets but could not find specific brands of whisky, vodka and beer. I have contracted my friends in Delhi for help.”