Cheap liquor is not cheap at all; Winery scheme announced by the government is not being implemented

KOCHI: The strength of the winery scheme announced by the government in 2022 to produce less potent wine from fruits has eroded.

The challenge is the inability to bring wine to the market at a low price and the complexities of the procedures. There are no concessions even though it is a low-strength liquor.Only Sebastian P Augustine, a farmer from Bheemanady in Kasaragod, obtained the license. Nila Wine of the Agricultural University was licensed but has not moved forward.Wine of 15.5 per cent potency was permitted to be produced from mangoes, jackfruit, papaya, pineapple, tapioca, etc. It was thought that producing quality wine with fruits that are wasted every season would benefit the agriculture sector.No direct salesThe wine produced should be handed over to the Beverages Corporation. It can be purchased from there and sold in supermarkets and so on. By then the price would have doubled two and a half times.ProceduresOn receipt of the licence, a committee headed by the Assistant Director of Agriculture department and consisting of deputy excise commissioner, assistant commissioner of food safety, assistant executive engineer of public works and inspector of factories and boilers will examine the technology, quality etc and submit a report to the excise commissioner. There should not be any abkari cases against the applicant.Enough to burn hole in pocketThe expense of the winery is Rs 30 lakh. The associated costs are additional. The license fee is 50,000 per year. A bottling cost of Rs 1,65,000 for three years has to be paid in a single payment. A four-room building is needed. One room each for sorting, storing, fermenting and bottling. There should be only one door. Tanks, and filtering-bottling machines are needed. The salary and the expense of the vehicles are additional.