Ranchi: People in Jharkhand looking to buy liquor are facing a tough time. Many popular IMFL (India Made Foreign Liquor) brands are currently unavailable in local shops. Even those willing to pay are being turned away, with shopkeepers saying there’s simply no stock. As a result, customers are either settling for unfamiliar brands or traveling to neighboring states to get their preferred liquor.
Adding to the frustration, even when some premium liquor is available, it’s often only in large 750 ml bottles — smaller, more affordable sizes like 375 ml and 180 ml are missing from the shelves.
Bablu Verma, a private sector employee, shared his experience: “I asked for my usual brand, but it was out of stock. I tried two other similar options, but they were also unavailable. In the end, I had to buy a cheaper brand at the same price I usually pay for my favorite.”
Rajesh Rajak, a banker, mentioned that many shops are charging an extra ₹10–40 per bottle.
Subodh Jaiswal, General Secretary of the Jharkhand Sharab Vyapari Sangh, explained the reason behind the shortage. He said that for the past 15–20 days, liquor shops across the state have been receiving little to no supply because the government hasn’t paid the Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL). “The stock is there in the godowns, but it’s not being released to the shops because payments haven’t been cleared. The excise department officials who handle this are on leave, and no one else has been assigned the job,” he said.
Jharkhand usually sees liquor sales of about ₹12 crore per day, but due to this issue, sales have dropped to just ₹3–4 crore. Jaiswal also revealed that multinational liquor companies haven’t sold anything to Jharkhand in the past month because they are waiting on ₹400–500 crore in dues.
When asked about the issue, State Excise Minister Yogendra Prasad said, “The excise commissioner was on leave for training, which caused the delay in payments. He has now returned, and the situation should return to normal within a day or two.”
