KHAMMAM: The never-before-heard odd timings of liquor and bars outlets have come as boon for those with entrepreneurial skills in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts.
Significantly, belt shops selling liquor without authorisation have increased in villages. Those with cash are purchasing various liquor bottles during early hours and stocking them at their homes in villages. They are selling the same for 2–3 times the marked prices.
There are 166 liquor shops, three clubs and 44 bars and restaurants in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts. However, belt shops that were 2,500 have increased to 4,000 now.
Nunna Rama Krishna, who runs a wine shop in Khammam, says, “People are buying in bulk when shops open in the morning. Customers buying one or two bottles are less.”
Boozers, who used to sleep till late, are now waking up early in the morning to get their quota of liquor from shops, which are open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. A tippler A. Srinivas said, “Definitely, the timings are odd. But the system has forced us to adopt a new habit”.
Persons running bars are, however, suffering in a major way. “We cannot run our business during these timings. We will not be able to recover even maintenance charges, including staff salaries, rents and power charges,” said Vishnu, who owns a bar.
