UP politicos raise a toast to 'chhotu'

Lucknow: Come elections and it is party time for both politicians and voters in Uttar Pradesh and what has made the party even livelier are the recently introduced small liquor bottles.

With the campaigning for the civic elections in the state already in full swing, these tiny 90 ml foreign liquor bottles, popularly called 'Chhotu' (small), are in great demand.

"Chhotu is in great demand by campaigners of different political parties," said a retailer in Lucknow.

Officials of the excise department confirmed that the trend had been similar at other elections also held over the past one year since Chhotu was introduced.

Significantly, the increased demand for Chhotu is expected to bring about an appreciable increase in excise revenue earnings this year.

"Liquor demand always goes up at poll time, but the popularity earned by Chhotu was unparalleled," Lucknow Deputy Excise Commissioner RP Verma said.

He said: "I am sure we will get much more revenue this financial year, considering that civic elections are on and the state assembly elections are to follow in early 2007."

He cited the example of the recent panchayat elections, when the excise department mopped up an additional Rs one billion due to increased sale of country-made liquor.

"Unlike panchayat polls that were confined to rural areas and therefore generated greater demand for country-made liquor, civic polls - largely in urban areas - have already generated greater demand for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the Chhotu pack", said a senior official of the department on conditions of anonymity.

"I am sure this will help the department easily cross the current financial year's stipulated target of Rs.34 billion," he added.

"The 90 ml pack is not only cheap but also handy to be easily passed on. The cheapest foreign liquor brand in this size was priced as low as Rs.28. Since a country-liquor bottle is also available for this price, Chhotu is naturally preferred," added the official.

"It could also bring down the demand for country-made liquor", he said.