Arrack units in Delta ‘on a high’ as Tasmac stays shut due to lockdown

If one trade has been revived during the coronavirus induced curfew that is brewing of illicit arrack. Though the prohibition enforcement wing personnel and the police are initiating stringent action, the sudden spurt in demand owing to the closure of Tasmac shops have ensured that illicit arrack makers and sellers are having a free run in central districts.

Interestingly, to meet the unprecedented demand, the makers have cut short the fermentation period blissfully ignoring the threat to the health and life of the consumers.

According to an ex-bootlegger, the usual fermentation period is a minimum of 28 days. “We take the required combination of ingredients and stir the mix on alternate days to get fermented. After this period, the wash will be taken out and distilled in perfect proportion for certain duration. The finished product will exactly match the taste of the Tasmac stuff,” he said on condition of anonymity. “In the past, we use to add even batteries and certain harmless insects for extra kick, which could affect the consumers’ health,” he added.

Regarding the cost, the bootlegger said, “To brew five litres of arrack a minimum of Rs 2,000 will be required and for 180 ml (a quarter bottle in Tasmac) of arrack we will charge somewhere between Rs 100 and 150. But, the returns won’t be lucrative if we properly use the ingredients.”

At present, to meet the growing demand, the distillation period has been cut to just 8 days. Sources close to the bootleggers said that they burry the wash for around seven days and heat them for just 2 hours and distil them. In this process of quick fermentation, different harmless materials were being used. “But threat to the health of consumers can’t be ruled out,” they said, adding, “what makes our job easy is that habitual tipplers want a high and don’t bother about the contents.” 

The brewers are keeping the police on its toes too. “We have been keeping constant vigil on these arrack units. At present, we are identified a few new locations and arrested a few persons. Still, it is a challenge on these days and we are closely monitoring to prevent this activity,” said DSP (Jeeyapuram) Gokila who recently destroyed 500 liters of illicit arrack in Ramji Nagar in the outskirts of Tiruchy.

A social activist and advocate Alex said “before the addicts involve in various offences, this is the right time for the government to turn them into normal human.”