COVID’19 caused a lot of loss that no one can even begin to comprehend but the biggest loss was the loss of everyone’s dearest friend, companion and therapist, Alcohol.
Loss of this dear one caused huge unrest among everyone, everywhere. What’s life without one’s dear ones? The peaceful, blissful and ecstasy filled life that everyone was used to was now no longer available. The four versions of lockdown implemented by the government almost destroyed everyone’s life.
The shutdown brought in revolutionary changes in the liquor industry. To help the mass from the sheer desperation and helplessness that they were feeling, ‘business venturers’ created apps, websites, Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups. Thanks to these fake pages, groups and websites many people lost their money. Our people have the ability to come up with the best scams, especially during a crisis. A couple lost more than one lakh rupees trying to get their dear alcohol home delivered.
I realised that these scammers really had potential when I read that there was an illegal Kerala State Beverage’s website running. They seem like real professionals; they used the government to extract money from people. They planned it at a time when everyone was hoping that the Kerala State Government would start the online sale of liquor to quench their thirst.
Did scammers just beat the government in understanding people’s demands?
‘How many people lost their money on this scam?’, I wonder. If people hadn’t lost their money would this scam have seen the light of day? Some questions will never have an answer.
With the increase in grievances over the closing of liquor shops, a few state governments decided to permit the opening of liquor stores. The concept of social distancing, proper queues, masks and precautions alienated. The result of it is why the government decided to shut it down again quickly.
No alcohol? No problem! How about a pint of alcohol-based sanitiser with soft drinks?
As long as there is the word ‘alcohol’ in it, anything can be substituted for liquor bottles is what the crowd seems to think. I feel for them, what other option do they have? Stop drinking alcohol? How could one survive such trying times without alcohol acting as a support system? The alcohol-based sanitiser mixed with soft drinks became such an exceptional hit that the company producing it decided to shut its retail outlet because of the long queues in front of the outlet.
I have faith in these avid drinkers who are ready to risk their lives for their dear alcohol. I believe that the economy will find its footing somehow through the liquor industry. All hail the next economy bloomer, Liquor.