Mumbai: Covid-19 scare around beer seems to be waning – Times of India

MUMBAI: Vini Mathew and Ujwala Khot, both finance professionals working with a banking firm in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) recently hosted an office party at a SoBo bar to celebrate their job anniversaries.
The majority revealed Ujwala drank beer as they could not enjoy it during the lockdown. Vini said home deliveries too were unable to maintain the temperature at which beer is consumed.
Last year when Covid-19 set in, the beer consumption took a beating as it is supposed to be consumed in a chilled state.
After a total closure came into effect in the last week of March 2020, home delivery of liquor was allowed only from May 15-20 onwards. However, consumption remained less than a half in the following months of June and July (compared to 2019 June and July) given the vulnerability of the throat, mouth and chest amid pandemic times.
Surprisingly, this year though the beer consumption halved in April and May following lockdown it again picked up in June and July and is way better than what it was in the same months of 2020. Overall, improvement in liquor consumption in 2021 as compared to 2020 is not only impressive but can expectedly reach normal levels (shown in 2019) provided the third wave doesn’t disrupt public life.
Owner of Hariyali restaurant and bar in Wadala Shivanand Shetty said due to delayed permissions to bars for online selling and opening of dining services in 2020 resulted in a large beer stock reaching expiry.
“Other than the scare of Covid-19, this news added fuel to the fire,” he said, pointing out that stocking the beer and serving it chilled has been an issue in-home deliveries. However, people are now enjoying a beer in bars like the pre-Covid period, he added.
Owner of Maharaja chain of restaurants Pradeep Shetty said this year there is more clarity about the disease among people, administrators in the government as well as doctors.
“Last year, people were confused and since there is more clarity about the disease now obviously there is more consumption. The Covid-appropriate behaviour has also improved besides more vaccination and herd immunity among the populace,” he pointed out.