Alcohol a stress-buster in Gurgaon

The city's social and professional lifestyle, it seems, has given a fillip to the consumption of liquor. People from across countries and groups work in Gurgaon's MNCs, call centres and IT companies. Leena Dhankhar reports.

The city's social and professional lifestyle, it seems, has given a fillip to the consumption of liquor. People from across countries and groups work in Gurgaon's MNCs, call centres and IT companies.

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These MNCs employ a lot of foreigners who lead high-end lives, which is why perhaps imported liquor is finding more takers in the city. "Imported beer and whiskey consumption till March 2011 was 3.2 lakh bottles and 2.36 lakh bottles which at present has already reached 2.82 lakh for beer and 1.96 lakh for whiskey. The rise will certainly cross last year's figure by March 2012" says Excise Inspector Pratap Singh.

The city's working class often operates under high pressure, which at times is difficult to cope with and many go the alcohol way to relax.

IT company employee Vijay Sharma said, "Our jobs pay well and so we have the purchasing power. But we work under high pressure, so drinking relieves this stress."

Also, liquor vends in the city have also registered a rise. Last year, their number was 56. This year, they have gone up by 10.

Pubs and bars pay Rs 6 lakh as fee for the year. To remain open for another two hours, they pay an additional Rs 5 lakh. And there are 14 such pubs and bars who do not mind paying this Rs 5 lakh. The city already has seven micro beer breweries.

Harsh Godara, a resident of Gurgaon, said, "I love to sit and drink with friends at their homes or at drinking joints. The traffic conditions here is pathetic, so we prefer to spend this time at drinking joints and go home when the traffic situation eases."