Tipplers talk politics over a drink

This on a day when there was a state-wide bandh called by the Opposition parties, which literally existed only on (news) paper.

As soon as the two boys managed to get their booze, four others joined them and they head to a bar adjacent to the Tasmac outlet, which can be best described ‘shady’. Hologram stickers from liquor bottles decorate the walls on which wooden planks had been fitted to serve as tables to keep the bottles. Most of them go about their business without much fuss.

The youngsters lend cold shoulders to questions on prohibition, but another tippler showed interest. After the requisite confirmations, M.Rajan (40) spoke up. He refers to the parties, which called for the bandh as Udhiri katchigal (small parties) “Let’s say these parties manage to bring prohibition in the state. People will go to Puducherry to drink. How will they stop that?” he asks.

Rajan firmly believes that all this is humbug and will fizzle out in four days. He quickly shifted focus to the bigger parties. Adjusting his bandana with one hand and raising his drink in the other, he said, all politics brother! “DMK ministers own five major distilleries. But, why is the AIADMK not making a fuss about it?” he asked and a few seconds later answered his own question – all politics brother.

Rajan, who does a ‘simple job’ earns a little more than Rs 20,000 a month. He spends close to Rs 3,000 at Tasmac every month. “I have been drinking since I was 22,” he said adding that he however restricts it to thrice a week and usually keeps his family in the dark about his drinking habits.

“Those who drink everyday- those heroes are of a different level. You can easily spot them in most of the outlets,” he says and led to a lungi-clad man.

The gentleman had just finished a quarter brandy (180 ml) within 10 minutes of buying it. “Enquire about Mani in the kuppam. Even a small child will tell who it is,” the old man said in a tone, typical of an inebriated man. A resident of the fishing hamlet, Urur kuppam near Besant Nagar, M.Mani is a regular at the outlet.

“I have been drinking for 35 years. Started drinking when a quarter brandy was priced at Rs 11. It has never affected my health so far,” said the 54-year-old when asked if chronic drinking has affected him.

A fisherman, Mani earns anywhere between Rs 1,000-Rs 2,000 on a good day when he goes for a catch and spends at least Rs 10,000 every month at the tasmac outlet. Asked if there is no resistance from his wife and children, Mani said, “Alavodu kudicha onnum solla maatanga. Adhigama kudicha adippanga (If I drink more, my wife will thrash me)” and let out a hearty laugh.

A sworn AIADMK sympathiser, he believes that PMK founder S. Ramadoss is behind all the calls for total prohibition and puts forth his defense. “Where do you think the government gets its money to dole out subsidies. If they enforce prohibition, the government will run out of money,” he said adding, “adhelam velaiku aagadhu (prohibition won’t work out) as he walked out of the bar.